u 


44 


HISTORY 

OF   THE 

OLD  HIGH    SCHOOL" 

ON  SCHOOL  STREET, 

AND   THE 

FEMALE    SEMINARY" 

ON  MAPLE  STREET, 
SPRINGFIELD,  MASSACHUSETTS. 


iC 


HISTORY 

OF   THE 

OLD  HIGH  SCHOOL" 

ON    SCHOOL    STREET, 

SPRLNGFIELD,    MASSACHUSETTS,     - 

FROM   1828  TO   1840, 

WITH  A   PERSONAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  TEACHERS, 


THE    NAMES    OF    265    PUPILS, 

WITH    THUIR     HISTORV    IN    PART, 

WITH   PORTRAITS,  AND  A  SKETCH  OF  THE  BUILDING. 


BY    CHARLES   WELLS   CHAPIN, 

(.\    I'Uril.    AT    liACK    SCHOOL  ) 


V 

^'Patience  /'asse  Science." 


bPRlNGKlKLl),    AL\SS.  : 

PRESS    OE    T]1E    SPRINCEIEl.I)    PRINTING    AND    lUNDING    CO. 

1  S90. 


Copyrighted,  iSgo, 
By  CHARLES  WELLS  CHAPIN. 


a  PREFATORY   NOTE 


A  LARGE  portion  of  this  work  was  written  in  a  front  upper 
room  of  the  "Old  High  School  Buildino-"  itself,  which  is 
now,  and  has  been  for  nearly  fifty  years,  used  as  a  priv^ate 
dwelling.  .  The  writer  has  been  stimulated  by  the  imaginar}- 
spirits  which  seemed  to  hover  over  his- work;  and  though 
in  declining  years,  he  is  still  hopeful  of  many  returns  to  the 
mirtliful  fii/ics  of  the  old  school-bov  davs. 


392845 


DEDICATED 


TO    THH 

SONS  AND   DAUGHTERS  (PUPILS) 

OF    THE 

OLD   niGfl   SCHOOL"    AND   THP:    "SEMINARY 
OF  SIXTY  YEARS  AGO. 


It  in  my  research  (uhicli  has  occupied  my  time  nearly  a  year  and  a 
iialf)  I  have  omittetl  to  do  justice  to  any  one  of  tlie  pupils  in  my  efforts 
to  gather  up  the  recollections  of  our  Aiiiia  Mater,  it  was  not  from  want 
of  due  res])ect,  hut  from  a  cause  beyond  mv  reach;  tlierefore,  if  in  the 
perusal  of  these  pages  they  afford  you  the  pleasure  and  gratification  that 
I  iiave  received  in  hearing  from  so  many  of  them  with  expressions  of 
encouragement,  in  my  endeavors  to  put  on  record  these  reminiscences,  then 
I  cannot  but  feel  that  I  have  been  in  some  degree  rewarded  for  my  hd:)ors. 
To  those  who  have  given  me  assistance  in  this  work,  I  tender  mv  sincere 
thanks. 

C.  W.  C. 

Sr'RiNC.FiKi.i),   Mass.,  January,   iSqo. 


"  //('iniiiis  rst  crrarel'^ 


TEACHERS. 

*  STORY  HEBARD, 

t  DAVID  N.  SHELDON,  t  SIMEON  II.  CALHOUN, 

I  WILLIAM  E.  DIXON,  t  SARDIS  B.  MORLEV, 

t  HENRY  R.  VAILLE,  t  SAMUEL  KNOX, 

J  JAMES  N.  SVKES, 

t  CHARLES  C.  BURNETT. 


Six  of  the  above  teachers  were  graduates  of  t  Williams  College,  two  of  +  Brown  University, 
and  one  of  *  Amherst  College. 


THE  "OLD  HIGH  SCHOOL" 

ON    SCHOOL   STREET. 

ITS  TEACHERS  AND  SCHOLARS  FROM  1828  TO  1840. 


The  first  building  erected  in  this  town  for  a  high  school 
house  is  yet  standing,  being  43  and  47  School  street,  and 
is  occupied  as  a  dwelling.  The  main  part  remains  the  same 
as  when  first  built.  The  cupola's  outward  appearance  is  but 
little  changed  ;  "the  bell  that  hung  within"  rings  no  more 
to  call  those  who  were  to  pass  its  doors.  On  the  east  part 
of  the  building  wings  have  been  added  on  the  north  and 
south  sides,  which  increase  its  former  proportions.  What 
memories  cluster  around  the  venerated  building,  calling  up 
the  scenes  of  boyhood  days  !  the  teachers  !  the  scholars  ! 
Of  the  former  only  two  survive  ;  of  the  latter,  alas!  many 
have  passed  to  the  "  other  side,"  some  hardly  arrived  to  man- 
hood, others  had  entered  middle  life,  a  few  had  reached 
three-score  and  ten,  while  those  remaining  are  verging  on 
and  many  have  passed  the  allotted  time  of  life. 

On  the  2d  day  of  April,  1827,  "  the  town  voted  to  choose 
a  committee  to  report  at  a  meeting  some  plan  for  establish- 
ing a  high  school,  and  where  the  same  shall  be  kept,  and 
also  to  make  an  estimate  of  the  expense.  The  committee 
were  Joseph  Pease,  Solomon  Hatch,  George  Bliss,  Jr.,  David 
Rice,  Allen  Bangs,  Israel  E.  Trask,  and  William  Child." 

May  14,  1827,  "the  committee  report,  and  recommend 
that  the  town  build  a  school  house  of  brick,  65  feet  by  30  feet, 
two  stories  high,  with  a  woodhouse  under  it,  and  a  cupola 
and  bell  on  one  end,  and  with  a  proper  outhouse  attached  ; 


10  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  house  to  be  fitted  up  in  a  plain,  strong  style  for  one 
school  room  on  each  story,  and  the  ground  fenced  in  ;  that 
the  whole  entirely  finished  will  not  be  less  than  twenty-five 
hundred  dollars." 

July  30,  1827,  the  town  voted  to  accept  of  a  lot,  8  rods 
17  links  by  4^  rods, offered  by  Simon  Sanborn.  George 
Colton,  Charles  Stearns,  Horace  King,  selectmen. 

August  2,  1827,  School  street  was  opened  from  State  to 
Union  street.  The  first  instructor  of  the  school  was  Story 
Hebard,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  a  graduate  of 
Amherst  College  in  1828.  He  took  charge  of  the  school 
soon  after  his  graduation,  and  successfully  conducted  it 
until  his  resignation  in  1830.  His  salary  was  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  a  year.  Mr.  Hebard  was  a  gentleman  of 
much  worth,  and  greatly  esteemed  in  the  community.  After 
leaving  the  school  he  went  to  Beirut,  Syria,  as  missionary  of 
the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sions. He  died  at  Malta,  June  30,  1841,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-nine,  respected  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

The  following  reply  vvas  received  from  Dr.  Sheldon,  to 
my  inquiry  respecting  his  term  of  service  as  principal  of 
the  Hic^h  School : — 


REV.    STORY    HEBARD. 


OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL.  II 

David  N.  Sheldon,  a  naiive  of  Suffield,  Conn.,  succeeded 
Mr.  Hebard.  He  was  the  principal  apart  of  the  year  1830, 
having  resigned,  owing  to  the  disobedience  manifested  by 
the  boys.  He  received  a  salary  at  the  rate  of  six  hundred 
dollars  a  year.  Mr.  Sheldon  graduated  at  Williams  College 
in  1830.  Brown  University  gave  him  the  degree  of  D.D. 
in  1847.  He  received  a  course  of  study  at  the  Newton 
Theological  Seminary,  and  in  1835  was  appointed  by  the 
Baptist  assembly  a  missionary  to  France.  He  was  absent 
about  four  years,  principally  in  Paris.  On  his  return  to 
the  United  States  he  became  pastor  of  a  Baptist  church  in 
Halifax,  Nova  Scotia.  In  1842  he  was  pastor  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  in  Waterville,  Maine,  and  the  next  year  he 
became  president  of  the  Waterville  College,  now  Colby  Uni- 
versity. In  1853  he  resigned  the  presidency  and  became 
the  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Bath,  Maine,  where  he 
remained  until  1856.  Meanwhile  having  experienced  a 
change  in  his  religious  views,  the  result  was  the  formation 
of  a  Unitarian  church  and  society  in  the  town,  of  which 
he  became  the  first  pastor.  In  1862  he  returned  to  Water- 
ville, Maine,  and  preached  to  the  Unitarian  congregation 
sixteen  years,  from  1862  until  1878.  Dr.  Sheldon  was  held 
with  great  respect  in  the  community  for  his  sturdy  sense 
and  many  virtues,  and  greatly  beloved  as  a  pastor.  He 
was  a  classical  scholar,  with  clear  perceptions  of  criticisms  ; 
a  fine  linguist,  and  possessed  the  faculty  of  speaking  several 
modern  languages.  He  died  at  his  home  on  Friday  morn- 
ing, October  4,  1889,  aged  82. 

One  of  the  scholars,  now  a  merchant  in  Boston,  writes  : 
"There  was  at  one  time  quite  a  degree  of  insubordination 
prevalent,  especially  among  the  older  boys.  This  state  of 
things  made  it  necessary  that  the  authorities,  the  school 
committee,  should  be  informed  thereof.  One  day  an  offi- 
cial called  at  the  school  to  address  the  scholars  upon  the 
matter.  He  stated  to  them  that  if  a  change  for  better 
order  did  not  speedily  take  place,  it  might  be  necessary  to 
call  out  the   militia.     This   seemed   to  have   the  effect  of 


12  HISTORY    OF    THE 

awing  the  boys  into  a  state  of  respectful  obedience  and 
unusual  attention  to  their  studies." 

The  securing  of  a  live  hen  and  placing  it  in  the  teacher's 
desk,  its  sudden  flight  when  he  opened  it  surprising  him 
as  much  as  it  delighted  the  boys,  was  one  of  the  many 
diversions. 

The  school  committee  in  183  i  were  Josiah  Hooker,  Will- 
iam Hyde,  and  William  Bliss.  They  after  some  effort  secured 
as  the  next  instructor  Simeon  H.  Calhoun,  a  native  of  Bos- 
ton, and  a  graduate  of  Williams  College  in  1829.  His  salary 
was  the  same  as  his  predecessor's. 

Mr.  Calhoun  was  a  gentleman  of  much  worth  and  great 
sincerity  of  purpose,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  the 
community.  He  had,  before  taking  charge  of  the  school, 
been  informed  of  the  vicious  conduct  of  the  scholars.  In 
entering  upon  his  duties  at  the  commencement  of  his  first 
term,  in  the  presence  of  the  school  committee,  he  addressed 
the  scholars  in  this  characteristic  manner:  "  Boys,  if  you 
are  mild  with  me  I  shall  be  mild  with  you  ;  if  you  are  harsh 
with  me  I  shall  be  JiarsJi  with  you."  After  this  gentle 
warning  the  scholars  were  disposed  to  be  on  their  good 
behavior.  The  school  moved  along  smoothly,  without  dis- 
cord. Mr.  Calhoun  was  gifted  with  much  religious  fervor 
and  loving  kindness,  enabling  him  to  draw  the  scholars  to 
him  with  much  love  and  affection.  He  conducted  the 
school  for  two  years,  until  1833,  when  he  resigned.  In 
1834-36  he  was  a  tutor  in  Williams  College.  In  1837  he 
went  to  Smyrna  and  became  a  missionary  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions.  In  1844  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Syrian  mission.  He  established  a 
seminary  on  Mount  Lebanon  for  the  education  of  native 
teachers.  After  many  years  of  service  abroad,  he  returned 
to  the  United  States.  He  died  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  14, 
1876,  aged  72. 

One  of  the  scholars,  now  a  citizen  of  Ohio,  writes  :  "  I 
remember  well  the  morning  of  Mr.  Calhoun's  advent.  We 
all  saw  at  once  he  was  not   to  be   trifled  with;   he  said  : 


ifr. 

/■^  1P^ 

'.'<' 

'4 

> 

jj 

|k^ 

^^ 

^ 

^fT^ 

'^^ 

m 

W       REV.    SIMEON    H.    CALHOUN. 


"  OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL. 


13 


'  Boys,  I  am  going  to  teach  the  school  ;  if  you  obey  the 
rules,  all  well ;  if  you  don't,  I  shall  flog  you.'  Not  many 
wished  from  his  appearance  to  try  the  latter.  One  qual- 
ification always  appeared  necessary  for  teachers  at  the 
school  in  those  days,  that  they  should  be  orthodox  in  relig- 
'  ious  matters.  I  recollect  attending  some  of  the  prayer 
meetings  when  revivals  were  going  on  at  the  '  old  Parish 
House,'  which  stood  in  Sanford  street,  on  the  east  side  of 
Market  street." 

William  E.  Dixon,  a  graduate  of  Williams  College  in 
1833,  succeeded  Mr.  Calhoun.  Owing  to  ill  health  he  did 
not  remain  long  in  charge  of  the  school.  A  near  relative 
of  Mr.  Dixon  writes  from  Kansas  :  "  He  was  a  retiring  and 
modest  man,  who  preferred  to  serve  his  God  quietly  and 
simply.  He  died  in  Enfield,  Conn.,  in  1876,  of  no  known 
disorder,  but  gradually  wasted  away,  after  the  death  of 
his  wife,  to  whom  he  was  most  tenderly  attached.  He  was 
beloved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a 
man  of  equal  ability  as  my  uncle,  James  Dixon,  a  represent- 
ative in  Congress  from  Connecticut  from  1845  to  1849,  'i^so 
United  States  senator  from  1857  to  1869,  who  died  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  March  27,  1873,  aged  59."  One  of  the  scholars 
writes  of  Mr.  Dixon  that  "he  was  mild  and  gentle  in  his 
manners,  and  devoted  to  his  duties." 

One  of  the  "boys"  residing  in  this  city  recollects  the 
following  event,  but  does  not  remember  the  teacher  who 
administered  the  punishment :  One  cold  winter's  morning- 
one  of  the  boys  who  was  known  to  be  fond  of  making  experi- 
ments with  chemicals  "  to  gain  knowledge,"  put  upon  the 
hot  stove  (a  cast  iron  box  stove)  a  quantity  of  brimstone, 
which  in  melting  sent  forth  a  peculiar,  suffocating  odor  and 
smoke,  filling  the  room  so  that  the  windows  were  obliged 
to  be  opened  to  ventilate  it  and  purify  the  air.  The  teacher 
arriving  before  that  could  be  accomplished,  the  scholars 
hurriedly  took  their  seats;  but  a  considerable  time  passed 
before  the  windows  could  be  closed.  After  the  school 
became  quiet  the  teacher  made  inquiries  as  to  who  was  the 


14 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


cause  of  this    "  breach  of  peace."     It  soon  appeared  that 

"Jim  "'  A was  the  guilty  one.    The  teacher  ordered  him 

to  come  forward,  and  to  hold  out  his  right  hand,  with  the 
palm  of  it  up,  on  which  he  struck  two  or  three  hard  blows 
with  the  ferule,  which  A received  with  Spartan  firm- 
ness, then  smilingly  took  his  seat. 

Sardis  B.  Morley  became  the  next  instructor.  He 
remained  about  one  year.  His  salary  was  the  same  as  his 
predecessor's. 

A  near  relative  writes  as  follows  :  "  Rev.  S.  B.  Morley 
was  born  in  Otis,  Mass.,  Sept.  17th,  1804.  He  graduated 
at  Williams  College  in  1829,  and  at  Yale  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  1833.  He  fitted  himself  for  college  and  supported 
himself  by  teaching.  While  in  college  and  afterwards  he 
taught  in  various  places,  especially  in  Springfield,  Mass., 
and  Winsted,  Conn.  He  supplied  the  Congregational 
churches  at  Bloomfield,  Conn.,  1833-4,  and  Attleborough, 
Mass.,  for  a  part  of  the  time  during  1834-7,  where  he  was 
ordained  and  installed  in  185  i,  remaining  until  1857.  He 
was  city  missionary  in  New  York  1837-8.  On  account  of  ill 
health  he  was  obliged  to  rest  for  ten  years,  1841-51,  during 
which  time  he  was  engaged  in  farming  at  West  Hartford, 
Conn.,  where  he  was  prominent  in  religious  work,  often 
preaching  there  and  in  neighboring  towns.  From  1857  till 
his  death  he  lived  at  Williamstown  and  Pittsfield,  Mass. 
While  living  at  Williamstown  he  supplied  the  Congrega- 
tional churches  in  Becket  and  in  West  Cummington,  Mass., 
each  a  year,  where  his  ministry  was  blessed  in  both  cases 
with  revivals  and  many  conversions.  He  was  clear  and 
pungent  in  his  prcaciiing,  i)rofound  in  his  religious  coiivic- 
tions,  sturdy  in  his  princi[)les.  He  belonged  to  the  Chris- 
tian wing  of  the  anti-slavery  reform,  where  he  did  good 
service.  He  was  an  earnest  supporter  of  temperance.  He 
was  rugged  in  his  nature,  lacking  some  of  the  niceties  of 
smoother  and  more  polished  men,  but  possessing  marked 
ability,  and  when  roused  capable  of  speaking  with  great  elo- 
quence.    ]\Tr.  Morley  evincetl  marked  aptitude  for  teaching. 


REV.    SARDIS   B.     MORLEY. 


"old  high  school.  15 

His  own  scholarship  was  thorough  ;  he  graduated  with 
honor  in  college,  receiving  the  Philosophical  oration.  In 
teaching  he  made  his  scholars  thorough.  He  fitted  his  own 
sons  for  college  and  saw  them  graduate  with  honor.  Many 
of  his  early  pupils  remember  him  after  the  lapse  of  fifty 
.  years  with  gratitude  and  affection.  He  was  married  July 
21,  1834,  to  Anna  Clarissa  Treat,  only  daughter  of  Selah 
Treat,  Esq.,  of  Hartford,  Conn.  Mrs.  Morley  died,  lamented 
by  all  who  knew  her,  May  9,  1881.  Mr.  Morley  died  peace- 
fully at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  October  i,  1889.  One  of  his  last 
utterances  was  characteristic  :  '  I  know  in  whom  I  have 
believed.'  Of  their  four  children,  Edward  W.  Morley  is  pro- 
fessor in  Adelbert  College,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Rev.  John  H. 
Morley  is  superintendent  of  the  American  Home  Mission- 
ary Society  for  Minnesota,  office  at  Minneapolis,  Minn.  ; 
Elizabeth  A.  Morley,  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.;  P'rank  G.  Mor- 
ley, who  died  in  1875,  being  at  the  time  of  his  death  prin- 
cipal of  the  High  School  in  Bristol,  R.  I." 

One  of  the  scholars  residing  in  Michigan,  writes:  "  One 
instance  of  Mr.  Morley's  discipline  is  very  distinctly  in  my 
mind.  On  the  north  side  of  the  school  room  the  wall  be- 
tween the  windows  was  painted  black,  and  used  as  a  black- 
board.    During  one  noon  intermission  a  boy,  G T , 

had  drawn  the  grotesque  figure  of  a  man,  and,  forgetting  to 
erase  it,  it  was  the  object  of  general  attention.  When  the 
teacher  came  in  a  careful  process  of  questioning  on  his  part 
left  no  doubt  of  the  picture  maker.  This  with  previous 
pranks  of  mischief  seemed  to  justify  heroic  treatment.  With 
his  coat  buttoned  around  him,  the  boy  was  ordered  to  come 
forward,  with  his  hands  held  in  front,  out  of  the  range  of 
the  three  twisted  switches,  when  the  teacher  struck  three 
blows  that  brought  the  withes  around  his  body  with  a  loud 
crack  that  brought  me  to  my  feet.  Not  a  word  was  uttered, 
for  the  blows  stopped  at  this  point,  and  the  boy  submis- 
sively took  his  seat." 

One  of  the  boys  residing  in    this  city  remembers  this 
incident :  "One  summer  morning,  before  the  teacher  arrived 


1 6  HISTORY    OF    THE 

at  the  school,  some  of  the  boys  were  very  busily  engaged  dig- 
ging a  pit  directly  in  front  of  the  steps  at  the  south  entrance 
to  the  school  room.  Having  completed  this  work,  they  cov- 
ered the  top  with  light  material,  on  this  a  layer  of  dirt, 
then  taking  favorable  positions  under  cover,  awaited  the 
arrival  of  the  teacher,  who  as  he  neared  the  steps  unsus- 
pectingly stepped  upon  the  covering,  and  suddenly  disap- 
peared, all  but  his  head.  By  his  own  efforts,  with  the  help 
of  sym[)athizers  among  the  boys,  he  was  soon  brought  to 
the  surface,  apparently  receiving  very  little  bodily  injury. 
The  countenance  of  the  teacher  as  he  entered  the  school 
room  gave  the  impression  that  if  he  could  find  out  the  boys 
that  dared  to  commit  such  an  act  he  would  give  them  a 
severe  flogging;  but  his  efforts  to  discover  the  victims  of 
his  desires  proved  unavailing." 

The  old  proverb,  "  Spare  the  rod  and  spoil  the  child," 
was  not  much  in  vogue  in  those  days.  Corporal  punish- 
ment, coupled  with  a  little  moral  suasion,  was  the  most 
elfective  method  in  bringing  the  insubordinate  pupil  to 
obedience.  At  the  present  day  the  former  practice  is  often 
dispensed  with  when  the  occasion  demands  heroic  treat- 
ment. 

One  of  the  scholars  residing  in  this  city  relates :  "  My 
brother  George  and  I  stole  out  of  the  school  room  by 
crawling  under  the  seats,  in  order  to  see  the  first  train  from 
Worcester  (in  1839)  come  in  on  the  Western  railroad.  We 
witnessed  the  event  and  got  back  to  school  without  being- 
missed  by  the  teacher.     We  thought  it  quite  an  exploit." 

From  a  city  in  Western  New  York  a  voice  comes  :  "  I 
can  remember  how  some  of  the  bold  small  boys,  in  the  warm 
summer  days,  when  the  school  room  door  stood  invitingly 
open,  and  the  teacher  was  engaged  at  the  other  end  of  the 
room,  would  crawl  on  their  hands  and  feet,  and  put  out  of 
doors  to  enjoy  for  a  moment  the  fresh  air  and  freedom. 
One  day  the  boy  who  sat  next  to  me  came  to  school  with 
a  striped  snake  in  his  bosom,  inside  his  shirt.  It  gave  me 
a  chill  which  T  think  has  clung  to  me  to  the  i^xsent  time." 


DR.    HENRY    R.    VAILLE. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL.  1 7 

In  November,  1830,  the  town  paid  Caleb  Hopkins  seven 
dollars  for  taking  care  of  the  school  house  ;  and  Joseph 
Bull  was  paid  five  dollars  for  ringing  the  bell  at  12  o'clock. 

There  were  evening  schools  during  Mr.  Morley's  admin- 
istration. Among  those  who  attended  were  Henry  Hills, 
William  Winship,  Eli  Nutting,  Henry  Appleton,  E.  C. 
Ring,  C.  G.  Hayes,  C.  Baxter  Allen,  Albert  Eames,  Rich- 
ard Moses. 

Henry  R.  Vaille,  a  native  of  Marlboro,  Vt.,  of  the  class 
of  1835,  Williams  College,  became  the  next  instructor, 
receiving  a  salary  of  $500  per  annum.  He  was  very  active 
in  his  endeavors  to  bring  the  school  up  to  a  high  standard  of 
efficiency.  During  the  autumn  of  1836  he  was  prostrated 
by  sickness,  and  Samuel  Knox,  ofBlandford,  Mass.,  a  grad- 
uate of  Williams  College  in  1836,  conducted  the  school  dur- 
ing his  absence  of  nine  weeks,  for  which  he  received  ^99.28. 
Subsequently  Mr.  Knox  removed  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.  ;  he  was 
a  representative  from  that  state  to  the  38th  Congress, 
having  successfully  contested  the  seat  occupied  by  Francis 
P.  Blair,  Jr.  Mr.  Knox  took  his  seat  near  the  close  of  the 
session  ending  in  June,  1864,  and  was  a  member  until 
March,  1865.  Mr.  Knox  is  pleasantly  remembered.  Mr. 
Vaille,  having  recovered  from  his  illness,  again  assumed 
his  position  as  teacher.  He  remained  in  charge  of  the 
school  until  about  the  year  1838,  retiring  with  much  credit 
for  the  successful  management  of  the  school.  He  soon 
after  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  the  late  Dr. 
George  Frost,  who  lived  on  the  corner  of  State  and  Spring 
streets.  (The  house  was  moved  back  on  to  Spring  street  a 
few  years  since,  apd  several  years  ago  was  torn  down  to 
make  way  for  a  more  modern  dwelling.)  He  attended  the 
Berkshire  Medical  School,  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  1846.  He  then  went  abroad  to  England  and 
France,  and  passed  a  year  studying  in  the  medical  schools 
of  London  and  Paris.  On  his  return  he  commenced  to 
practice  medicine.     He  was  devoted  to  his  profession,  and 


1 8  HISTORV^    OF    THE 

won  the  confidence  of  those  who  were  his  patients.  He 
died  July  15,  1885,  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Vaille  was  accustomed  to  wear  a  pair  of  green  gog- 
gles, which  prevented  the  boys  from  seeing  whether  he  was 
looking  at  them  or  not;  if  they  made  any  noise  or  were 
not  in  their  seats  he  was  quick  to  detect  it,  much  to  their 
surprise. 

James  N.  Sykes,  of  Suffield,  Conn.,  and  the  Literary 
Institute,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University  in  1839,  succeeded 
Mr.  Vaille,  and  conducted  the  school  about  one  year,  receiv- 
ing a  salary  at  the  rate  of  ^500  per  annum.  Mr.  Sykes 
was  very  popular  with  the  scholars,  and  his  kind  and 
pleasant  ways  deeply  attached  them  to  him.  After  leaving 
the  school  Mr.  Sykes  was  ordained  a  Baptist  minister 
in  North  Reading,  Mass.,  in  1842;  was  called  to  Bristol, 
R.  I.,  in  1843.  At  this  time  he  was  greatly  interested  in 
education,  and  became  a  prominent  member  of  the  school 
board.  In  1848  he  received  a  call  to  Chelsea,  Mass.,  where 
he  remained  about  three  years.  He  was  pastor  in  East 
Boston  for  eight  years  ;  also  a  member  of  the  Boston  school 
board  during  his  residence  there.  He  spent  eight  years  in 
Newburyport,  Mass.,  and  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board.  From  thence  he  removed  to  Painesville,  Ohio,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  about  three  years. 
He  was  pastor  of  a  church  in  Greenville,  Conn.,  for  three 
years.  At  this  time,  his  health  having  become  much 
impaired,  he  retired  from  the  ministry.  Mr.  S)^kes  took 
a  great  interest  in  educational  work  and  whenever  he  was 
located  was  always  called  upon  to  take  an  active  part  in  its 
duties.  "Of  a  genial  disposition  and  fond  of  a  good  stor)-, 
he  was  ever  ready  with  an  anecdote  suitable  for  the  occa- 
sion."    He  died  at  Agawam,  Mass.,  Sept.  27,  1880,  aged  68. 

Charles  C.  15urnett,  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  a  graduate  of 
Brown  Uni\crsity  in  1839,  ^'^•^^  ^^''^  principal  for  about  six- 
months  previous  to  its  close  in  the  spring  of  1840.  His 
salary  was  at  the  rate  of  $750  per  year.  After  leax'ing  the 
school  Mr.   Burnett  became  the  principal   of  Connecticut 


REV.   JAMES    N.    SYKES. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL.  IQ 

Literary  Institute,  Suffield,  Conn.,  for  five  years,  and  the 
Worcester  Academy  in  1849,  remaining  four  years.  He 
was  classical  teacher  of  Peirce  Academy,  Middleboro,  Mass., 
from  1853  until  1863,  when  he  removed  to  this  city  and 
became  proprietor  and  principal  of  the  Springfield  English 
and  Classical  Institute,  on  West  Court  street,  and  remained 
until  its  close  in  1S83.  His  success  in  all  of  the  above 
positions  was  fully  assured.  Mr.  Burnett  now  resides  in 
West  Springfield,  Mass. 

Samuel  S.  Greene,  a  native  of  Belchertown,  Mass.,  was 
superintendent  of  the  schools  in  1840-42,  at  a  salary  of 
$900  per  annum.  He  graduated  at  Brown  University  in 
1837.  He  was  instructor  in  the  English  High  School  of 
Boston  in  1842-49,  superintendent  of  the  public  schools 
in  Providence,  R.  I.,  in  1851-55,  and  professor  at  Brown 
University  from  1855-64.  He  died  January  24,  188^, 
aged  Ti- 

"  Ridcntcm  diccrc  I'cnn/i,  quid  I'ctat  ?  " 

One  of  the  "  boys,"  an  esteemed  citizen  and  successful 
merchant  residing  in  Michigan,  contributes  the  following, 
which  has  the  "  Ring"  to  it  with  no  "  uncertain  sound  "  :  "  In 
1835  I  entered  the  High  School,  under  the  tuition  of  Mr. 
Vaille.  He  was  a  noble  gentleman,  and,  withal,  lovable, 
except  to  evil  doers.  He  had  a  faculty  of  taking  kinks  out 
of  boys,  and  took  several  out  of  the  writer.  I  hailed 
from  the  '  upper  Water  Shops,'  and  was  one  of  some  ten 
or  twelve  who  trailed  through  mud  and  snow  from  the 
'upper'  and  'middle  Water  Shops'  to  the  High  School. 
We  had  room  enough  for  travel  in  those  days,  there  being 
but  six  or  seven  houses  on  Central  street  between  my 
father's  house  (corner  of  Central  and  Hancock  streets)  and 
the  top  of  '  Sterns  Hill.'  We  made  our  own  path  in  the 
snow  and  on  our  return  at  night  found  it  much  the  same  as 
we  left  it  in  the  morning.  We  usually  crossed  the  now 
beautiful  cemetery  grounds,  near  the  western  entrance,  on 
the   dam   of  Hill  &  Winship,  who   were  manufacturers   of 


20  HISTORY    OF    THE 

joiners'  tools.  When,  however,  we  wanted  a  '  whirl '  at 
snow-balling  with  the  '  Lawtonites,'  and  the  Seminary  boys, 
we  went  I'ia  Maple  street.  We  had  many  such  strifes,  out 
of  which,  from  our  standpoint,  we  always  came  off  victori- 
ous. Our  captain  in  such  battles  was  John  S.  Miller,  of 
stalwart  frame,  and  with  heart  and  'sand'  in  full  proportion 
to  his  frame.  I  have  in  mind  very  distinctly  the  history  of 
the  old  High  School  from  1835  to  1840.  The  teachers  dur- 
ing those  years  were  Messrs.  Vaille,  Knox,  Sykes,  and  Bur- 
nett. These  were  all  gentlemen  of  education  and  great 
worth,  teachers  who  made  their  marks  upon  the  many  boys 
under  their  tuition.  Each  had  his  own  methods;  each  of 
them,  if  my  feeling  is  a  criterion,  fills  a  warm  corner  in  the 
heart  of  many  a  boy  of  sixty  to-day.  Mr.  Vaille  was  per- 
haps the  most  muscular  Christian  of  all  of  these  teachers, 
and  the  one  most  prone  to  let  a  self-sufficient  boy  'drop.' 
I  well  remember  several  instances  of  this  kind.  I  well  know 
it  for  /  zoas  there.  Entering  the  school  at  eleven  years  of 
age,  I  was  in  my  own  estimation  a  smart  boy.  On  the  first 
day  of  the  term  the  new  boys  were  called  up  to  be  classified 
and  each  was  sent  to  the  blackboard  to  show  his  points. 
I  remember  taking  a  lump  of  chalk  and  saying,  'Ready.' 
The  teacher  looked  at  me  with,  I  thought,  mischief  in  his 
eye.  Seeing  the  ear-marks  of  greenness  instead  of  bravado, 
however,  he  withheld  reproof  and  said  mildly,  '  Reduce 
one  hundred-weight  to  ounces.'  I  flourished  my  chalk 
and  proceeded  as  follows  :  '28X4X  16 — '  'Where  is  your 
one  hundred-weight } '  said  the  teacher.  '  No  use  set- 
ting it  down,'  said  I.  'Set  it  down,'  said  the  teacher,  'and 
then,  instead  of  multiplying  28  by  4,  multiply  4  by  28.'  My 
knees  weakened  and  I  was  Jioniesick,  excited,  and  my  head 
whirled.  I  could  do  no  more.  I  was  told  to  take  my  seat, 
and  a  remark  was  made  to  the  effect  that  if  I  did  not  work 
hard  I  would  probably  be  invited  to  leave  the  school.  I 
was  so  thoroughly  squelched  that  the  teacher's  sympathy 
was  aroused,  and  he  changed  his  tone  suddenly,  and  said, 
'  Work,  you  will  make  a  man  yet,  and  you  will  be  able  be- 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL.  21 

fore  the  close  of  this  term  to  show  that  tittering  boy  behind 
you  how  to  do  Jiis  work.'  Well,  I  came  to  life  again  and 
worked.  Towards  the  last  of  the  term  the  boy  who  laughed 
at  my  misfortune  asked  the  teacher  to  solve  a  problem  for 

him,  and  he  told  him  to  go  to  R ,     He  went  and  the 

problem  was  solved.  I  have  seen  many  teachers  at  their 
work  since  those  days,  but  have  never  seen  one  who  worked 
harder  or  accomplished  more  than  did  the  teachers  of  the 
old  High  School.  And  I  believe  that  with  all  the  advan- 
tages of  the  present  graded  schools  boys  are  no  better  fitted 
to  fight  the  battles  of  life  than  were  the  boys  of  the  old 
High  School.  I  am  a  resident  of  Saginaw,  Mich.,  and 
here  I  have  a  family  and  home.  I  hereby  invite  any  and 
all  of  the  '  old  boys  '  to  call  and  see  me  and  shake  hands 
with  me.  We  are  about  to  drop  out  of  line,  all  of  us.  Let 
us  do  so  in  good  order,  and 

" '  Like  one  that  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 
About  him.  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams.'  " 

One  of  the  scholars,  now  an  esteemed  missionary  in  the 
East,  writes  from  Constantinople,  Turkey:  "  Mr.  Hebard 
was  a  fine  scholar,  very  gentle  and  amiable  in  his  character 
and  conduct  towards  the  scholars,  who  consequently  became 
very  much  attached  to  him,  so  that  at  the  close  of  his  term 
of  service,  in  token  of  their  esteem,  they  presented  him  with 
a  set  of  books  of  the  value  of  nearly  fifty  dollars.  Though 
Mr.  Hebard's  personal  character  attached  members  of  the 
school  to  him,  there  were  rogues  among  them  as  always, 
some  of  whom,  notwithstanding  the  general  favor  with 
which  he  was  regarded,  dug  a  pit  in  the  path  by  which  he 
must  approach  the  school,  and,  concealing  it,  watched  for 
his  expected  fall  into  it.  He  fell,  but  wisely  taking  no  notice 
of  the  incident,  put  the  rogues  to  shame  before  the  school. 
The  roguery  was  not  repeated.  The  High  School  gathered 
its  pupils  from  different  parts  of  the  town  (which  at  that  time 
included  the  present  limits  of  Chicopee)  and  in  those  early 
days,  in   the  winter  season    the   out   of  school   hours  were 


22  HISTORY    OF    THE 

scenes  of  fierce  snow-ball  fighting  between  'Hillers'  and 
'  Streeters,'  as  the  scholars  from  the  different  localities  were 
distinguished."  As  the  rebellious  spirit  was  still  exhibited 
among  the  boys,  he  further  writes:  "The  coming  in  of 
Mr.  Simeon  H.  Calhoun  very  soon  restored  order  to  the 
school,  and  fixed  himself  in  the  affection  of  the  scholars. 
He  gave  them  fair  warning  that  their  conduct  in  school 
would  determine  his  rule  over  them,  whether  it  should  be 
mild  or  severe.  He  gave  them  good  specimens  of  both 
kinds  ;  the  very  severe  on  occasions  when  it  was  called  for, 
and  the  rule  of  kindest  love  for  those  who  sought  it  by  obe- 
dience to  the  rules  of  the  school.  None  of  those  in  the 
school  during  Mr.  Calhoun's  era  ever  speak  of  him  but  in 
the  most  affectionate  terms,  and,  widely  as  they  have  been 
scattered  since  their  school  days,  they  have  retained  most 
loving  remembrance  of  him.  Mr.  Calhoun's  decided  Chris- 
tian character,  manifested  both  in  the  school  and  in  his  gen- 
eral influence  in  Springfield,  and  which  asserted  itself  in  his 
subsequent  career  as  a  tutor  in  Williams  College  and  as  a 
missionary  in  Syria,  was  the  charm  that  drew  all  hearts  to 
him." 

One  of  the  "  bright  boys,"  now  a  resident  of  California, 
writes  :  "  I  well  remember  the  floggings  Mr.  Calhoun  used 
to  give  me  (and  I  guess  I  deserved  them),  but  his  succes- 
sor, a  most  excellent  teacher,  taught  only  one  term,  during 
which  the  boys  made  it  uncomfortable  for  him.  I  think 
it  was  during  his  term  that  he  organized  an  evening  school 
in  order  to  further  improve  our  minds,  and  at  which  a  Jack 
o'lantern  was  ])laced  on  top  of  the  mineral  case,  and  one 
evening — and  it  was  the  last  with  lighted  candles — ink 
stands  and  bullets  were  thrown  about  the  room  and  through 
the  windows,  the  old  box  stove  near  the  door  was  covered 

witli  tallow  and ,  and  several  lengths  of  the  stove  pipe, 

which  ran  the  entire  length  of  the  room,  was  let  down  on 
the  desks,  causing  the  school  to  be  dismissed  the  next 
morning  and  giving  us  a  half  holiday.  Once  brickbats 
were  hung  under  the  floor,  suspended  by  a  string  close   to 


"old  high  school."  23 

the  foot  of  the  stool  ;  one  boy  would  draw  up  a  brick, 
which  would  strike  the  floor  from  underneath  with  a  loud 
thump.  The  teacher  would  start  out  to  find  where  the 
noise  came  from,  and  as  he  neared  the  spot  a  loud  noise 
would  again  be  heard  at  the  other  end  of  the  room.  Then 
he  would  start  for  that  locality,  and  when  he  arrived  there 
the  noise  would  again  be  repeated  at  some  other  place  in  the 
room.  Finally,  as  the  noise  seemed  to  come  from  below,  the 
teacher  visited  the  cellar  and  there  saw  to  his  amazement 
several  bricks  suspended  by  strings  from  the  floor  above. 

On  returning  to  the  school  room  he  called  up  R L , 

a  nice  boy,  who  was  never  engaged  in  any  mischief,  and 
asked  him  if  he  knew  of  any  one  who  made  the  noise.  He 
said  that  he  did  and  gave  the  boy's  name  [this  boy  was  the 
'  bright  boy '  of  California].  The  teacher  questioned  this  boy 
and  he  acknowledged  that  he  was  one  of  those  who  made 
the  noise.  The  teacher  then  asked  him  if  he  knew  of  others 
that  had  helped  to  make  the  disturbance.  He  told  him  that 
half  of  the  school  had,  and  he  mentioned  a  few  names — 
they  afterwards  became  prominent  citizens  in  Springfield, 
Mass.,  and  the  city  of  New  York.  They  were  asked  about 
it,  and  though  their  answers  seemed  to  be  satisfactory  to 
the  teacher,  they  were  not  honorable  to  the  boys.  I  was 
dismissed,  which  caused  a  row  and  a  meeting  of  the  school 
committee  the  next  day,  who  after  an  investigation  decided 
to  let  me  go  back,  but  the  teacher  said  if  I  did  he  would 
leave.  The  result  was  that  I  was  dismissed  for  the  balance 
of  the  term  for  telling  the  truth  and  the  other  boys  retained 

their   seats  by   .     I  amused   myself   at  the   old   brick 

school  house  in  the  rear  of  the  old  Town  Hall,  with  Master 
Kirkham  (William)  for  a  few  weeks  and  then  went  back,  the 
teacher  aforesaid  at  the  old  High  School  having  retired. 

"When  Mr.  Vaille  took  the  school  he  came  in  the  first 
morning  with  a  handful  of  switches  and  commenced  using 
them  the  first  day,  and  if  my  memory  is  correct  a  promi- 
nent merchant  of  your  town,  now  deceased,  got  the  first 
dose." 


24  HISTORY    OF    THE 

One  of  the  pupils  (though  "  l^Hss"-ful  the  reading  of 
these  pages  may  add  to  his  joys)  writes  from  the  "  City  of 
Churches  by  the  Sea"  : — 

"  The  town  was  divided  into  the  '  Hill '  and  the 
'  Street '  interest.  The  result  was  a  vote  diminishing  the 
appropriation,  which  brought  about  the  resignation  of  Mr. 
Story  Hebard.  The  salary  which  he  formerly  had  was  cut 
down  and  he  resigned.  The  attachment  of  the  pupils  to 
him  was  so  very  strong  that  the  boys  rebelled  against  the 
teacher  that  was  hired  in  his  place.  They  took  advantage 
of  the  teacher's  ignorance  of  the  names  and  when  the  roll 
was  called  answered  to  wrong  names  or  did  not  answer  at 
all,  and  when  his  back  was  turned  some  of  them  crept  out 
on  their  hands  and  knees,  and  every  device  was  practiced 
to  embarrass  him.  The  monitors  who  were  appointed  and 
sat  on  the  platform  with  the  teacher,  to  mark  any  delinquent 
and  report  the  same,  did  not  do  so,  as  they  were  rebellious. 
When  Mr.  Simeon  H.  Calhoun  became  the  teacher,  he 
was  wise  enough  to  have  one  of  the  committee  who  knew 
the  names  of  most  of  the  scholars  present  when  the  roll  was 
called  at  the  commencement  and  close  of  the  school,  so 
that  the  boys  who  had  run  out  of  school  were  caught.  After 
a  few  days  in  which  he  let  the  boys  have  their  own  way,  he 
said,  '  J^oys,  you  have  ruled  long  enough,  and  now  it  is  my 
turn.'  And  with  a  determined  and  severe  treatment  he 
brought  the  school  into  subjection.  The  revolt  was  uni- 
versal, it  had  no  leaders.  The  committee  suspended  three  of 
the  pupils,  which  was  unjust,  and  they  were  received  back 
by  Mr.  Calhoun.  The  school  became  harmonious  and 
united  ;  he  was  loved  and  obeyed,  and  during  his  adminis- 
tration there  was  a  revival  of  religion  in  progress." 

One  of  the  genial  scholars  residing  in  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ain region  writes  :  "  While  I  cannot  recall  any  particular 
pieces  the  boys  used  to  speak  on  Saturdays,  I  feel  my  ribs 
rising  at  the  comic  and  amusing  speeches  which  at  that 
long  lime  ago  set  tliem  in  motion.  Brevity  with  some 
was  closely  studied,  wit  and  comic  would   be  mingled  with 


"old  high  school.  25 

words  and  looks.  The  sta2:e  scare  in  others  was  amusinsr 
to  those  who  had  passed  the  ordeal,  while  a  few  whose 
budding  ambitions  looked  forward  to  the  thrones  of  power, 
or  senatorial  honors,  or  a  residence  in  the  White  House, 
assumed  a  dignity  unsurpassed.  The  studious  Ames  Wells, 
the  genial  spirited  Horace  Lee,  the  sunny  Henry  Chapin, 
the  well  poised  John  Pynchon,  and  many  others  most  kind 
and  friendly,  troop  before  me  as  I  write." 

One  of  the  scholars  now  residing  in  Western  New  York 
writes:  "Simeon  H.  Calhoun  is  remembered  with  affec- 
tionate respect,  a  man  of  equable  temper,  not  harsh  though 
constitutionally  Puritanic,  not  letting  down  to  levels  of 
boyish  relaxation  but  holding  to  the  dignity  of  his  office,  a 
sample  of  the  best  old-time  school-masters.  As  I  remember, 
he  showed  no  difficulty  in  teaching  morals,  leaving  unsaid 
all  religious  dogmatism  ;  and  in  this  teaching  his  influence 
compared  with  that  of  others  must  have  been  decided,  but 
how  could  one  man  do  much  (anything)  with  such  a  hetero- 
geneous crowd  as  we  were  ?  Besides  the  differences  as  great 
as  could  well  have  been  sixty  years  ago  in  a  New  England 
town,  we  had  fellows  all  the  way  iroxn  Jfoi/ndcirrs  in  the  three 
1\  s,  to  such  fittings  for  college  as  those  times  called  for." 

There  were  two  factions  among  the  boys,  and  consider- 
able rivalry  existed  between  them  as  to  which  side  should 
win  in  the  ball  games  or  in  an  engagement  in  the  trial  of 
tour  de  force. 

Those  boys  living  on  the  "Hill"  were  known  as  the 
"  Hillers,"  and  those  on  Main  street  were  called  "Street- 
ers."  The  former  were  environed  by  the  presence  of  Uncle 
Sam's  gleaming  guns,  whose  shot  (fired  by  the  war-worn 
veterans  of  the  Revolution)  went  and  left  their  mark  on  the 
"  Wait  Mon-u-ment,"and  dispersed  the  misguided  men  of 
Daniel  Shays,  so  that  this  event  in  their  youthful  minds 
raised  their  spirits  as  they  were  inclined.  While  the  latter 
lived  mostly  in  the  foggy  atmosphere  of  "  Hasseky  Marsh," 
which  did  not  promote  a  spirit  of  aggressive  valor,  though 
many   of  them  were   obliged   to   pass    daily   by   the    "old 


26  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Pynchon  Fort,"  whose  walls  had  defied  King  Philip's 
warriors, — taught  an  object  lesson  that  inspired  them  with 
ardor  in  contest  with  their  opponents. 

The  "  Water-shop  "  boys  were  true  and  steady, 
While  the  "South-end"  boys  were  always  ready. 
The  ••  North-end  "  boys  were  prompt  to  action 
And  had  desires  to  break  the  factions. 
The  boys  from  the  neighboring  towns 
Who  kept  aloof  with  air  profound 
And  did  not  join  the  friendly  fray, 
Stood  aghast. — and  went  their  way. 

The  neutral  ground  was  the  place 
Where  they  sometimes  met,  face-to-face. 

The  games  of  base  ball,  wicket,  and  foot  ball  were  held 
on  the  "old  goal"  lot,  now  the  "  High  School  lot,"  State 
street,  the  "  Oliver  B.  Morris  lot,"  now  Temple  street,  the 
"Jonathan  Dwight  lot,"  now  West  State  street,  the  "Col. 
John  Worthington  lot,"  now  West  Worthington  street,  and 
the  "  Col.  Israel  Trask  lot,"  now  occupied  by  residences  on 
the  east  side  of  Elliott  street. 

Edmund  Dwight,  a  native  of  this  town  and  an  eminent 
Boston  merchant,  was  the  donor  of  several  silver  medals, 
which  were  given  out  to  the  most  proficient  scholars  at  the 
public  exhibitions  held  in  the  old  Town  Hall  on  State 
street.  Among  the  donees  were  John  B.  Stebbins,  whose 
medal  bears  this  inscription  : — 

ADJUDGED 

BY  THR 

SCHOOL    COMMITTEE 

AS    A 

KICWAKI)  OF  MKKrr 


JOHN    15.    STEl'.BINS. 


Obverse  :- 


SPKlN(iFIF.I.D 
HIGH    SCHOOL. 

With   the   representation  of  two  quill  pens  and  o])en  book. 
No  date  given. 


"old  high  school.  27 

Another  medal  was  received  by  Morgan  Appleton,  the 
father  of  Julius  H.  Appleton,  president  of  the  Riverside 
Paper  Co.,  Holyoke,  Mass.     Inscription  : — 

ADJUDGED 

BY  THE 

SCHOOL    COMMITTEE 

AS  A 

REWARD    OF    JVIERIT 

TO 

M.  APPLETON, 
1831. 


Obverse 


SPRINGFIELD 
HIGH    SCHOOL. 


With  the  representation  of  two  quill  pens  and  open  book. 

Marshall  B.  Blake,  of  New  York,  writes  :  "  I  have  a  relic 
of  the  school  in  the  shape  of  a  silver  medal  dated  1829, 
awarded  xxxq,  I  kuozv  not  for  %^'hat,  at  a  public  exhibition 
given  by  the  school  in  the  old  State-street  Town  Hall." 

Edwin  E.  Bliss,  now  missionary  at  Constantinople, 
Turkey,  was  a  recipient  of  one  of  the  medals. 

The  following  roll  of  members  of  the  old  High  School 
was  found  in  the  old  Bowdoin  &  Carew  store  building  on 
the  "  Hill  "  in  1865.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  left  there 
by  William  Hyde,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  who  at  that  time  had  an 
office  in  the  building,  and  was  one  of  the  School  Committee 
in  1832  : — 


28 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


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29 


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John  Wait, 
Lewis  Stebbins, 
Lester  Sikes, 
Edwin  Rogers, 
Henry  Chapman, 
B.  F.  Warner, 
Chauncy  Hubbard, 
Jonathan  Boylston, 
Benjamin  Richardson, 
George  Osborn, 
Jackson  Stebbins, 
Daniel  Ponieroy, 
Dexter  Wells, 
James  G.  Allen, 
Henry  Comstock, 
Charles  W.  Chapin, 
Peter  R.  Potter, 
Roswell  Chapin, 
Esek  Sanders, 
Charles  W.  Rice, 
George  Schipper, 
Ephraim  W.  Bond, 
Roswell  Lombard, 
R.  W.  Kirkham, 
Joel  D.  Barber, 
George  Jones, 
Haskell  Goodman, 
Daniel  Pynchon, 
Edwin  Taylor, 
Rodolphus  Attleton, 
Samuel  Chapin, 
Charles  Childs, 
Morgan  Appleton, 
George  B.  Morris, 
Edwin  E.  l)liss, 
Joseph  C.  Pynchon, 
R.  Edward  May, 
William  Harding, 
Oliver  Sexton, 
H.  Dexter  Chapin, 
Samuel  P.  Lee, 

30  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  following  invitation  to  the  "  old  boys  "  was  duly 
honored  and  respected  : — 

Dear  Sir:  Many  of  the  graduates  and  former  members  of  the  old 
High  School  in  Springfield  are  desirous  of  gathering  together  in  a 
social  union  all  who  were  connected  with  the  school  at  any  time  from 
its  organization  in  1828  to  its  discontinuance  in  1840 — that  among  the 
scenes  of  their  boyhood  they  may  renew  early  friendships,  recall  pleas- 
ant memories  of  their  Abna  Mater,  and  "  Know  again  the  happy 
visions  of  their  youth." 

The  undersigned,  having  been  appointed  a  committee  to  make 
arrangements  for  the  meeting,  extend  to  you  a  most  cordial  invitation 
to  participate  in  the  festivities  of  the  occasion,  and  hope  that  for  "  Auld 
lang  syne  "  you  will  not  fail  of  being  present.  The  day  named  for  the 
gathering  is  Thursday,  the  21st  of  August. 

An  early  reply  is  rec^uested,  addressed  to  the  .Secretary  of  the 
Committee. 


*James  D.  Brewer, 
James  B.  Hatch, 
Alfred  Booth, 
Walter  Bates, 
*George  B.  Morris, 
*Charles  O.  Chapin, 
*Samuel  Bowles, 
John  B.  Stebbins, 
Charles  W.  Chapix, 
*A.  D.  Briggs, 
*Lester  Sykks, 

Springkiei.d,  July  3,  1S56. 


Justlx  Benton, 
Abijah  W.  Chajmx, 
John  Kimberly, 
*joseph  c.  pvnchon, 

*HORACE  C.  LeE, 

Warren  Mills, 
Ephraim  W.  Bond, 
Benj.a.min  K.  Bliss, 
*James  G.  Allen, 
*Henhv  R.  Vaille. 

Ja.mes  Kikkham,  Secretary. 


The  following  notice  of  the  re-union  appeared  in  the 
Springfield  Rcpiib/ican  of  August  22,  1856  : — 

The  Old  High  School  Ri;-U.\io.\. — The  gathering  of  scholars 
in  the  old  High  School  on  .School  street — from  1828  to  1840 — and 
tiieir  dinner  together  at  the  Warriner  House,  on  Thursday  evening, 
formed  a  very  interesting  and  to  the  participants  a  delightful  episode 
in  the  history  of  the  week.  About  one  hundred  responded  to  the  call, 
full  one-third  coming  from  distant  homes  to  be  present.  There  was  a 
considerable  representation  of  the  first  sciiolars  in  the  old  school, 
including  Thomas  N.  Dale  of  Paris,  France,  Messrs.  Blake  and  Pot- 
ter of  New  York,  Emery  of   Boston,  Goodman  of   Hartford  [now  of 


*  Deceased. 


w"    ^'•■• 

'  's»«sr:  1 

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l>';nflH 

\ 

pp,^ 

p*m'-                      ■ 

lfe-«i:^:'.'  ' 

DR.   JOSEPH    C.    PYNCHON. 


"old  high  school."  31 

Boston],  with  James  D.  Brewer,  Joseph  C.  Pynchon,  John  B.  Stebbins, 
and  others  still  residing  in  Springfield.  Ephraim  W.  Bond  of  this 
city  presided  at  the  tables,  and  after  the  repast  pertinently  and  elo- 
quently opened  an  agreeable  round  of  speeches,  to  whose  interest  mem- 
ory gave  many  an  interesting  incident  of  old  times,  and  the  \\'ell-springs 
of  local  and  personal  affection  many  a  pleasing  and  touching  tribute. 
William  B.  Calhoun,  as  one  of  the  fathers  of  the  school,  and  the  brother 
of  its  most  renowned  teacher,  was  present  among  the  invited  guests, 
and  spoke  with  earnestness  and  interest  to  several  practical  points 
in  the  past  and  future  of  the  educational  history  of  Springfield.  Mr. 
Parish,  as  principal  of  the  present  High  School,  and  more  as  29  years 
ago  at  the  age  of  18  teacher  in  the  old  district  school  house  back  of  the 
Masonic  Hall,  and  there  the  instructor  and  graduator  of  the  first  class 
that  entered  the  old  High  School,  was  called  up,  and  entertained  his  old 
and  new  friends  with  pleasant  reminiscences  and  suggestions.  There 
followed  a  pretty  general  relation  of  "experience"  in  the  "old  brick 
school,"  and  the  sitting  was  prolonged  with  pleasure  to  all  to  a  late 
hour.  L.  V.  H.  Crosby,  the  celebrated  vocalist,  who  was  one  of  the 
old  boys,  was  of  the  party,  and  entertained  the  company  with  a  taste  of 
his  quality  in  the  musical  line.  Altogether,  it  was  a  rare  occasion  for 
those  who  were  of  it,  and  full  of  pleasure  to  the  mere  spectators.  Good 
must  grow  out  of  this  meeting — good  to  those  who  have  thus  met — good 
we  hope  to  the  literary  character  and  educational  fame  of  Springfield. 


The  following  are  the  names  and  brief  biographies  of 
265  pupils  that  attended  the  old  High  School.  Of  these 
1 10  have  died,  their  ages  aggregating  5,419  years,  an  aver- 
age of  nearly  50  years. 

Joseph  C.  Pynchon. — Entered  Amherst  College  in  1832 
but  left  after  two  years  to  enter  Williams  College,  and  grad- 
uated in  1836.  He  then  went  to  Georgia  as  teacher  in  an 
academy,  returned  to  Springfield  in  the  autumn  of  1839. 
Studied  medicine  with  the  late  Dr.  Josiah  H.  Flint  and  Dr. 
David  Smith,  Sr.  In  1840  he  attended  the  Harvard  Medical 
School,  and  in  1841-42  the  Medical  University  of  New 
York,  graduating  in  1843.  He  practiced  medicine  in  this 
city  for  two  and  one-half  years,  and  then  retired  from  the 
profession.  Was  a  representative  in  the  Legislature  in  1 849 ; 
member  of  the  common  council  in  1853  from  Ward  Two. 


32 


HISTORY    OK    Tllli 


Member  of  the  school  committee  three  years.  In  1852  was 
treasurer  of  the  old  Hampden  Fire  Insurance  Co.,  and  its 
president  until  the  close  of  its  afiairs,  made  necessary  by  the 
heavy  losses  incurred  by  the  fire  in  Portland,  Me.,  in  1866. 
Was  treasurer  of  the  Five  Cents  Savings  Bank  in  1856,  and 
its  president  until  his  death.  He  was  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Pynchon  &  Stickney,  insurance  agents.  He 
died  April  9,  1889,  aged  74. 

Bradford  K.  Pierce,  Newton,  Mass. — Graduated  at  the 
Wesleyan  University  in  1841  ;  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  was  stationed  at  Wal- 
tham,  Mass.,  in  1843,  Newburyport,  Mass.,  in  1844-45,  and 
in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  1847.  Agent  of  the  American  Sun- 
day School  Union  from  1845  to  1856.  A  member  of  the 
Massachusetts  Senate  in  1856.  He  was  successful  in 
establishing  the  State  Industrial  School  at  Lancaster  in 
1856,  was  the  superintendent  and  chaplain  until  1862. 
From  1863  until  1872  he  served  as  chaplain  of  the  House  of 
Refuge  on  Randall's  Island,  N.  Y.  He  was  the  editor  of 
Z ion's  Ih'rahHvom  1872  to  1888,  and  trustee  of  Wellesley 
College  from  1876  to  1889.  He  died  Ai)ril  19,  1889,  aged 
•jy  years. 

Calei!  Hoi'Kixs. — Learned  the  joiner's  trade.  He  built 
the  first  house  in  Plain  field  (now  Brightwood)  for  Lucius  M. 
Carew.  In  1835  he  went  to  Manchester,  Conn.  In  1837 
he  removed  to  PLllington,  Conn.,  where  he  now  resides. 
Was  a  builder  and  contractor  for  a  number  of  years.  In 
1858  he  was  elected  probate  judge,  and  re-elected  for  twelve 
consecutive  years.  In  1875,  upon  the  opening  of  the  Con- 
necticut Central  Railroad,  was  station  agent  for  five  years. 

Charles  Emery.  —  Born  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  in 
1816,  and  attended  the  old  High  School  on  School  street, 
from  its  opening,  in  1828,  until  1831,  when  he  left  to  follow 
the  sea,  after  the  example  of  his  father  and  grandfather. 
His  first  voyage  was  made  as  a  boy  on  the  ship  "ICclipsc," 
from  Salem  to  Manilla  ami  Canton.     He  sailed  on  his  15th 


CAPT.    CHAKLES    EMERY. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL."  33 

birthday,  and  was  absent  13  months.  He  made  other  voy- 
ages as  seaman  on  the  ship  "Chatham  "  to  Charleston  and 
Liverpool,  on  the  "  Eclipse  "  to  Calcutta  as  second  mate, 
and  on  the  brig  "  Margaret  "  to  Savannah  and  the  West 
.  Indies.  In  the  summer  of  1 836  he  was  offered  the  command 
of  the  brig  "Swan,"  fitting  out  for  the  west  coast  of  South 
America,  and  made  the  voyage  around  Cape  Horn  as  cap- 
tain, when  but  three  months  over  20  years  of  age.  After 
spending  two  years  on  that  coast  and  visiting  all  its  principal 
ports,  he  returned  as  passenger  on  the  whaling  bark 
"  Columbus  "  of  New  Bedford.  He  then  bought  the  brig 
"  John  Gilpin,"  went  to  South  America,  sold  the  vessel 
at  Lima,  Peru,  and  returned  as  a  passenger  on  the  whaling 
ship  "  Massachusetts  "  of  Nantucket.  He  afterward  bought 
the  brig  "  Wallace  "  and  took  out  a  cargo  of  naval  stores 
for  the  United  States  fleet  on  the  Rio  Janeiro  station,  sold 
this  vessel  to  the  Russian  Governor  of  Kamtchatka  and 
came  home  via  Callao,  Peru,  and  the  isthmus  of  Panama. 
After  remaining  at  home  about  two  years  he  bought  the 
brig  "  Grand  Turk"  and  loaded  it  with  material  for  a  ship- 
yard in  Hong  Kong,  China,  then  lately  acquired  by  the 
Knglish.  He  arrived  there  after  a  passage  of  164  days, 
and,  when  the  cargo  was  discharged,  sold  the  brig  and 
returned  home  in  the  bark  "  Sharon  "  of  Boston. 

Capt.  Emery  was  agent  of  the  New  England  coal  mine  at 
[Portsmouth,  R.  I.,  for  two  or  three  years  from  1856.  He 
was  also  for  several  years  interested  in  Lake  Superior 
copper  mines,  and  was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Pewabic  and  Franklin  mining  companies,  having  an  office 
in  Boston.  In  the  winter  of  1878-9,  New  York  parties, 
largely  engaged  in  the  cedar  and  mahogany  trade,  were 
desirous  of  exploring  the  river  Amazon,  in  order  to  obtain 
a  supply  of  the  valuable  woods  of  the  tropics.  Capt.  Emery 
agreed  to  take  charge  of  the  expedition.  He  sailed  from 
Boston  in  the  schooner  "Knowles,"  for  Para,  Brazil,  and 
thence  proceeded  up  the  Amazon  for  several  hundred  miles, 
carrying  the  United  States  flag  where  it  had  never  been 


34  HISTORY    OF    THE 

before.  He  made  another  voyage  to  Para,  and  thence  went 
to  Manaos,  looo  miles  further  up  the  Amazon,  for  the 
purpose  of  estabHshing  a  branch  for  a  rubber-house  of 
Boston  in  the  heart  of  the  rubber  country.  After  remaining 
there  more  than  two  years  he  returned  home  in  June,  1882, 
and  has  since  hved  quietly  with  his  family  in  Dorchester, 
whither  he  moved  from  Springfield  in  1843. 

For  two  or  three  years  past  Capt.  Emery  had  been  pres- 
ident of  the  Boston  Marine  Society,  composed  almost  entirely 
of  old  ship-masters,  to  which  he  devoted  much  time  and 
attention,  and  in  which  he  was  associated  with  his  old  friend, 
Capt.  Robert  Forbes,  who  died  recently  in  Boston.  Capt. 
Emery's  rugged,  strong,  kindly  face  will  be  sadly  missed  by 
his  many  friends  here  and  in  Boston.  He  was  a  typical 
sea  captain  of  the  old  merchant  service,  that  fast  vanishing 
class  of  fine  old  men,  who  delight  in  recalling  the  memories 
of  the  old  days  when  they  sailed  the  high  seas,  before  steam 
had  supplanted  the  slow  sailing  ships. 

Captain  Emery  leaves  a  wife,  who  came  from  Exeter, 
N.  H.,  two  sons,  clergymen  in  the  Episcopal  church,  and  six 
daughters.  He  died  at  his  home,  Dorchester,  Mass.,  Jan- 
uary 3,  1890,  at  the  age  of  73. 

Aktemas  Bigelow. — In  1838  botanized  in  Alabama  ; 
1839  visited  Texas.  In  1839-41  botanized  and  geologized 
in  Alabama,  Georgia,  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina,  Vir- 
ginia, Pennsylvania,  and  New  York.  In  1842-43  studied 
law.  In  1844-49  engaged  in  farming.  In  1849-52  botanized 
and  geologized  in  Alabama.  In  1852-56  teacher  of  natural 
sciences, Wesleyan  Seminary,  Newark,  N.  J.  In  1858  super- 
intendent of  Passaic  Chemical  Works,  N.  J.  In  1862  erected 
chemical  works  on  the  Hudson,  near  P'ort  Lee.  In  1869 
taugiitin  Farrand's  Collegiate  School.  Erected  for  Balti- 
more Copper  Company  works  for  the  manufacture  of  sul- 
phuric acid.  Teacher  of  Latin  and  Greek  in  Harrison's 
Polytechnic  School,  New  York  city.  In  1881  manufacturer 
of  chemicals,  Newark,  N.  J. 


"old  high  school,  35 

Thomas  N.  Dale. — Went  on  a  whaling  voyage  ;  was 
absent  three  years.  On  his  return  he  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  selling  buttons  and  tailors'  supplies.  Soon  became 
the  leading  tailors'  trimming  house  in  the  United  States. 
As  an  importer  he  went  to  Paris,  France,  and  having  an 
elegant  mansion  there  he  dispensed  a  princely  hospitality, 
especially  to  Americans.  He  owned  a  residence  in  New 
York,  and  a  handsome  villa  in  Newport,  R.  I.  In  1855  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  silk  braids  and  bindings  at 
Newark,  N.  J.  In  1862  he  removed  his  manufactory  to 
Paterson,  N.J.  Rebuilt  the  "Dale  mill"  at  a  cost  of 
$185,000.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  trade,  and  the 
first  vice-president  of  the  Silk  Association  of  America  from 
1876  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
United  States  Centennial  Commission  for  New  Jersey.  He 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  originating  and  devising  plans 
for  the  introduction  of  technical  instruction  as  necessary 
for  the  success  of  American  industries  in  order  to  compete 
with  those  of  the  old  world.  Mr.  Dale  resided  at  the  time 
of  his  death  (July  17,  1879,  3-t  the  age  of  66)  with  his  son, 
Thomas  N.  Dale,  Jr.  This  affecting  incident  occurred  at  his 
death:  "He  left  the  dinner  table  and  went  to  his  study, 
taking  a  newspaper  with  him.  A  member  of  the  family 
wanting  it  sent  his  little  granddaughter,  three  years  old,  to 
get  it.  She  not  returning  for  some  time,  another  one  of 
the  family  entered  the  room  and  found  the  little  girl  play- 
ing with  the  listless  hand.  '  Grandpa's  asleep,'  she  said, '  I 
can't  wake  him.'  "  Nor  could  any  one  arouse  him  from  that 
death  sleep,  the  result  of  a  stroke  of  paralysis. 

Harvey  D.  Chai'in. — Was  clerk  and  agent  for  Sargeant 
&Chapin  (Horatio  Sargeant  and  Chester  W.  Chapin),  stage 
and  steamboat  proprietors,  prior  to  the  advent  of  railroads 
to  Springfield,  Mass.  In  1849  he  entered  the  service  of 
the  Erie  Railway  Company,  and  as  conductor  ran  the  first 
excursion  train,  which  took  the  officials  of  the  road  from 
Piermont  to  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  when  first  opened.     In    1853 


36  HISTORY    OF    THE 

he  received  a  contract  with  Messrs.  Callender  and  Barker 
to  construct  a  railroad  from  Parkman  to  Tififin,  Ohio,  called 
the  Clinton  Line  Extension.  The  road  was  to  be  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles  in  length.  The  late  William  B.  Brins- 
made,  a  prominent  civil  engineer,  was  the  chief  engineer  of 
the  road,  with  office  at  Hudson,  Ohio.  In  1862  Mr.  Chapin 
was  agent  at  Corry,  Penn.,  for  the  Atlantic  &  Great  Western 
Railroad  Company,  from  Salamanca,  N.  Y.,  to  Dayton, 
Ohio,  and  superintendent  of  two  divisions  on  the  opening 
of  the  road  in  1864.  In  1866  he  was  general  freight  agent 
of  the  Oil  Creek  Railroad  Co.  from  Corry  to  Oil  City.  He 
was  division  superintendent  of  the  Chesapeake  &  Ohio 
R.  R.  Co.  in  1872,  with  office  at  Staunton,  Va.  In  1877  he 
was  agent  for  the  Toledo,  Wabash  &  Western  Railroad 
Company  at  East  St.  Louis,  remaining  until  1879,  ^vhen 
he  retired  from  business.  He  died  at  Springfield,  Mass., 
August  2,  1887,  in  the  71st  year  of  his  age. 

Charles  W.  Stearns. —  Graduated  at  Yale  College, 
class  of  1837.  After  leaving  college  he  studied  medicine 
at  the  Pennsylvania  L'niversity  in  1837-40.  Was  a  sur- 
geon in  the  army.  In  a  few  years  he  left  the  army  and 
practiced  at  his  profession.  Was  a  writer  of  considerable 
note  ;  author  of  "  Shakespeare's  Treasury."  Giving  up  the 
practice  of  medicine,  he  resided  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  in 
Newport,  R.  I.,  and  in  New  York  cily.  He  invented  the 
creased  soles  for  rubber  shoes  and  boots,  and  made  other 
improvements.  He  died  of  paralysis  at  Longmeadow,  Mass., 
Sept.  8,  1887,  in  the  70th  year  of  his  age. 

Marshall  B.  Blakk. —  In  1830  went  to  New  York  as 
clerk  for  Arthur  Tappan  &  Co.,  a  silk  dry  goods  jobbing 
house.  In  January,  1836,  became  a  partner  in  the  house  of 
Ramsdell,  Brown  &  Co.,  until  1862.  Becoming  interested 
in  politics  was  chosen  a  delegate  in  i860  to  the  Chicago 
Convention  that  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  for  president, 
and  was  by  him  appointed  in  1862  Collector  of  Internal 
Revenue  in  the  city  of  New  York,  remaining  in  ofifice  until 


MARSHALL   B.    BLAKE. 


"old  high  school.  37 

1886,  when  he  was  retired  from  office  by  President  Cleve- 
land.    Mr.  Blake  still  resides  in  New  York. 

William  B.  Bond,  Rogers  Park,  111. — Graduated  at 
Amherst  College  in  1835.  A  clergyman.  Studied  at  the 
Lane  Theological  Seminary,  Cincinnati,  O.  Graduated  at 
the  Union  Seminary,  New  York  city,  in  1839.  Ordained 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Lee,  Mass.  Was 
settled  subsequently  at  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  where  he 
remained  twelve  years.  Afterwards  at  Thorndikeand  New 
Braintree,  Mass.,  where  he  held  pastorates  about  eighteen 
years.  In  1879  he  removed  to  Illinois,  where  he  still 
resides. 

Samuel  L.  Chapin. — Went  to  sea  ;  was  for  twenty-five 
years  captain  of  a  sailing  vessel  between  New  York  and  the 
West  Indies.  Was  associated  for  many  years  with  the 
Schuyler  Steamboat  Co.,  between  New  York  and  Albany. 
He  died  in  New  York,  Dec.  31,  1887,  in  the  70th  year  of 
his  age. 

Joel  C.  Benton. — Studied  medicine  under  the  late  Dr. 
Horace  Jacobs,  at  Chicopee  Falls,  Mass.  He  removed  to 
Decatur,  Illinois.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  was 
sutler  of  the  41st  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers  from  1861 
to  1865.  After  the  war  was  a  railroad  contractor.  He 
died  January,  1869,  aged  46. 

John  A.  Emery. — He  was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1 843 
in  Harvard  College,  and  a  young  man  of  much  promise, 
loved  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  died  at  Exeter,  N.  H.,  after 
a  brief  illness,  October,  1842. 

James  B.  Hatch,  Springfield,  Mass. — An  able  and  suc- 
cessful navigator,  having  followed  the  sea  for  nearly  forty 
years  ;  made  his  first  voyage  in  the  ship  "Alert "  from 
Boston  in  183 1.  He  commanded  some  of  the  finest  ships 
out  of  New  York  and  Boston,  among  them  being  the 
"  Barnstable,"  "  Loo-Choo,"  "  Horsburg,"  "Great  Britain," 
"  Midnight,"  and  "Charger."     In   1849  the  U.   S.  Govern- 


392845 


38  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ment  chartered  the  ship  "  Loo-Choo,"  in  which  he  took  a 
part  of  the  7th  Regiment  New  York  State  Volunteers,  Col. 
J.  D.  Stevenson  commanding,  to  San  Francisco,  Cal,  z'ia 
Cape  Horn. 

George  B.  Morris,  Springfield,  Mass. — Graduated  at 
Amherst  College  in  1837,  Harvard  Law  School  in  1840.  A 
lawyer.  Commisioner  of  insolvency,  1848  to  185 1  ;  clerk  of 
the  courts  for  Hampden  county  from  1852  until  his  death, 
July  7,  1872,  at  the  age  of  53. 

Ephraim  W.  Bond,  Springfield,  Mass. — Graduated  at 
Amherst  College  in  1841,  Harvard  Law  School  in  1845,  an 
able  lawyer  and  a  partner  with  the  late  Erasmus  D.  Beach. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  common  council  in  1853,  an  alder- 
man in  1862  ;  overseer  of  Charity  Fund,  Amherst  College, 
from  1 864  to  1878,  donor  of  the  Bond  Commencement  Prize, 
director  in  the  Pynchon  National  Bank,  and  was  president 
of  the  Massachusetts  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  from 
Feb.,  1873,  to  Feb.,  1886;  also  president  of  the  Five  Cents 
Savings  Bank  and  a  director  in  the  Massachusetts  Mutual 
Life  Lisurance  Company. 

John  B.  Stebbins,  Springfield,  Mass. — Clerk  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  one  year,  until  1833,  then  clerk  for  Homer 
Foot  &  Co.  until  Jan.  i,  1839.  He  then  went  to  New  York, 
where  he  remained  until  August,  when  he  returned  to 
Springfield  and  entered  the  service  of  Homer  Foot  &  Co. 
Became  a  partner  in  1842  and  continued  until  1885,  hav- 
ing been  clerk  and  partner  fifty-two  years,  and  a  partner 
forty-four  years.  An  alderman  from  Ward  One  in  1853  ; 
member  of  the  school  committee  from  Ward  Six  in  1865  to 
1869  and  1873.  Was  president  of  the  Holyoke  Water 
Power  Company,  from  1886  to  Jan.,  1890.  A  director  in 
the  City  Library  Association,  Ludlow  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, and  the  City  National  Bank,  and  the  courteous 
president  and  trustee  of  Springfield's  favorite  financial 
institution,  the  Springfield  Institution  for  Savings. 


JOHN    B.    STEBBINS. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL.  39 

Charles  W.  Chapin,  Springfield,  Mass. — Went  to 
Illinois  in  1841  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1844  went  to 
Philadelphia,  engaged  in  the  mercantile  marine  shipping 
there  and  in  New  York  until  1852;  was  in  the  service  of 
the  Springfield  Gas  Light  Company  three  years;  From 
1855  until  1875  he  was  in  the  coal  business. 

William  Rice,  Springfield,  Mass. — From  1841  to  1857 
engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  New  England  Confer- 
ence Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  1875  to  1882,  trustee 
of  Wesleyan  University  ;  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Board  of  Education  ;  1873  to  1882  chaplain  Hampden 
County  House  of  Correction.  Member  of  the  School  Com- 
mittee from  1865  to  1882;  vice-president  of  the  Five  Cents 
Savings  Bank,  and  the  esteemed  librarian  of  the  City 
Library  since  1861. 

Moses  Hazen  White,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. — He  was  first 
lieutenant  Company  C,  and  major  of  22d  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry  during  the  Rebellion,  was  librarian  of  the  young 
men's  Mercantile  Library,  Cincinnati,  O.  He  died  May  i, 
1878,  in  his  6ist  year.  He  was  the  son  of  Col.  John  H. 
White  of  Lancaster,  N.  H. 

Alfred  Booth. — Engaged  in  medical  studies  in  Phil- 
adelphia in  1843-45,  ai''c^  i'l  New  York  in  1847;  practiced 
medicine  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  in  1848,  and  in  Springfield, 
1849-50;  engaged  in  newspaper  work  in  1859;  advertis- 
ing agent  for  J.  C.  Ayer  &  Co.,  Lowell,  Mass.,  in  1860-63  ! 
the  same  in  New  York  in  1863.  Engaged  on  the  Union 
in  this  city  in  1864  and  for  several  years  on  the  Honic- 
stead.  In  Boston,  1876,  afterwards  in  New  York,  writing 
and  lecturing.  Was  instrumental  in  chartering  Bellevue 
College  in  Boston,  in  1880;  chartered  the  Excelsior  Medical 
College  in  1882  ;  was  engaged  on  the  American  Agricultur- 
ist, New  York  city.  In  1868  he  wrote  a  series  of  articles 
{22  in  number)  of  Historical  Reminiscences  of  Springfield, 
which  were  published  in  a  local  paper.  Residence,  Spring- 
field, Mass. 


40  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Charles  R.  Bunker. — Went  to  sea,  made  two  voyages 
to  Europe.  Afterwards  learned  the  machinist  trade  ;  was 
employed  by  Smith  &  Wesson  for  many  years,  by  Colt's 
Arms  Co.,  Hartford,  Conn.,  four  years,  and  by  the  Wheeler 
&  Wilson  Sewing  Machine  Company,  Watertown,  Conn., 
two  years.     Is  now  employed  at  the  United  States  Armory. 

Albert  D.  Briggs,  Springfield,  Mass. — Began  business 
as  a  civil  engineer;  in  1839  ^^^^  engaged  under  Major 
Whistler  in  the  construction  of  the  Western  Railroad  (now 
the  Boston  &  Albany).  He  also  assisted  in  the  building  of 
the  Connecticut  River  Railroad  ;  was  engaged  with  the  late 
D.  L.  Harris  in  bridge  building,  and  with  John  R,  Smith, 
in  1870,  was  appointed  railroad  commissioner  for  Massa- 
chusetts ;  was  elected  an  alderman  in  1864  from  Ward 
Three,  mayor  of  this  city  in  1865-67;  was  a  member  of 
the  commission  that  constructed  the  Springfield  water 
works,  a  director  in  the  Third  National  Bank  and  the  Fire 
and  Marine  Insurance  Company.  He  died  Feb.  20,  1881, 
aged  61. 

James  D.  Brewer,  Springfield,  Mass. — In  1834  was 
clerk  for  Whitney  &  Stoddard,  Northampton,  Mass. ;  in  1837 
was  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  from  thence 
in  New  York  city.  He  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in 
this  city  in  1839,  and  continued  it  until  1872.  He  was 
chief  engineer  of  the  fire  department  in  1853,  director  of 
the  Agawam  Canal  Company,  director  and  president  of 
the  Chicopee  National  Bank,  director  and  treasurer  of  the 
Springfield  Gas  Light  Company.  He  died  Feb.  7,  1886, 
aged  66  years  9  months. 

George  G.  Cadwell,  Springfield,  Mass. — For  twenty 
years  the  leading  merchant  tailor.  Was  at  one  time  a 
partner  with  the  late  Henry  Fuller,  Jr.  He  died  April  4, 
1865,  aged  42. 

William  Stebbins. — Went  to  New  York  about  1840, 
engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  ;  returned  to  Springfield, 
Mass.,  about  1866,  where  he  died  Nov.  14,  1876,  aged  56. 


JAMES    D.    BREWER. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL."  4I 

James  H.  Osgood.— Was  clerk  for  Thompson  &  Co.'s 
Express  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  afterwards  was  agent  for  the 
company  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  from  185710  1863.  He  now 
resides  in  New  York  city. 

Elisha  Bllss,  Jr.,  Hartford,  Conn. — Was  in-  the  dry 
goods  trade  in  this  city  and  New  York  ;  president  of  the 
American  Publishing  Co.,  Hartford,  Conn.  He  died  Sept. 
28,  1880,  aged  59. 

Horatio  Stebbins. — A  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in 
1848;  Cambridge  Theological  School  in  185 1  ;  an  eminent 
Unitarian  divine.  Was  pastor  at  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  then  at 
Portland,  Maine,  now  at  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

John  Colton. — Was  with  E.  W.  Clark  &  Co.,  bankers, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  for  many  years.  He  died  at  Holyoke, 
Mass.,  Feb.  21,  1875,  aged  54. 

George  F.  Tannatt. — Went  to  California  in  1849,  sail- 
ing from  Boston  on  the  ship  "  Capitol."  On  his  return 
settled  in  Bloomington,  111.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Rebellion  he  enlisted  as  first  lieutenant,  in  the  ist  Illinois 
Cavalry,  was  captain  on  the  staff  of  General  Prince  at  the 
battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  Va.,  where  he  fell  Aug.  9,  1862. 
He  was  taken  to  Alexandria,  Va.,  where  he  died  of  his 
wounds  Aug.  15,  1862,  in  the  38th  year  of  his  age.  James 
Harding,  who  was  on  the  staff  of  General  Sterling  Price 
of  the  rebel  army,  saw  Captain  Tannatt  when  taken 
prisoner  in  one  of  the  battles  in  Missouri,  and  assisted  him 
to  pass  through  into  the  Union  lines.  He  told  Harding, 
they  both  meeting  pleasantly,  that  he  much  preferred  to  see 
him  in  a  different  suit  from  the  one  he  had  on. 

George  L.  Frost,  Dodgeville,  Wisconsin. — Graduated 
from  Yale  College  in  1850  and  Harvard  Law  School  in  1852  ; 
an  able  lawyer;  school  superintendent  of  the  City  of  Min- 
eral Point,  Wis.,  two  years  ;  circuit  court  commissioner  of 
Iowa  county,  Wis.,  eighteen  years  ;  state  senator  two  years  ; 
editor  of  Mineral  Point  Democrat  three  years.  He  died  at 
Madison,  Wis.,  F'eb.  15,  1879,  i"  his  49th  year. 


42  HISTORY    OF    ']HE 

Abel  Chapin  Kingsbury. — Followed  the  sea,  made 
many  voyages  from  New  York  to  China  and  European 
ports.  Retiring  from  the  sea,  he  became  an  engineer  on 
the  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad,  for  several  years,  resid- 
ing at  Greenbush,  N.  Y.  He  died  in  New  York  city  Nov. 
19,  1 88 1,  aged  64  years. 

William  Foster,  Jr. — A  prominent  and  wealthy  citizen 
of  New  York  city.  He  is  president  of  the  Retsof  Salt 
Mining  Company  in  Livingston  county,  N.  Y. 

Joel  Miller. — Was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1843  at 
Union  College,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.  During  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion  was  enrolled  at  West  Springfield,  July,  1862, 
Company  D,  34th  Mass.  Vols.  ;  the  same  month  mustered 
in  for  three  years  as  corporal  at  Worcester,  Mass.  He  was 
mustered  in  as  second  lieutenant  Co.  I,  ist  North  Carolina 
colored  troops  in  May,  1863,  at  New-Berne,  N.  C.  He  died 
August  19,  1863,  at  U.  S.  General  Hospital,  Folly  Island, 
S.  C,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  the  age  of  43  years. 

Charles  O.  Chapin,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  clerk  for 
G.  &  C.  Merriam  about  six  years,  member  of  the  firm  of 
Merriam,  Chapin  &  Co.,  booksellers,  also  firm  of  Chapin  & 
Bridgman  ;  clerk  of  the  common  council  in  1854,  1856,  1857, 
1858.  In  1858  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Henry  A. 
Gould,  when  they  bought  the  Crescent  Paper  Mills  at  Rus- 
sell, Mass.,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  fine  writing 
paper.  Mr.  Chapin  was  actively  engaged  in  the  construction 
of  the  Ludlow  water  works  in  1873-75,  being  one  of  the 
water  commisioners  ;  was  chairman  of  the  board  from  1873 
to  1880.  He  was  president  of  the  Springfield  &  Long- 
meadow  Railroad  Company,  a  director  in  the  Massachusetts 
Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  and  in  the  Agawam 
National  Bank,  and  trustee  in  the  Five  Cents  Savings 
Bank.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  prison  com- 
missioners. When  in  Boston  attending  a  meeting  of  the 
board,  held  at  the  State  House,  he  was  suddenly  stricken 
down,  dying  Oct.  28,  1882,  at  the  age  of  57. 


■^\ 

'^  m- 

'■,    /  IfPIW-^ 

CHARLES    ().    CHAPIX. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL."  43 

David  A.  Wells,  Norwich,  Conn.  —  The  eminent 
economist.  Graduated  at  WiUiams  College  in  1847.  In  1848 
was  on  the  editorial  staft"  of  the  Springfield  Republican.  He 
suggested  the  idea  of  folding  newspapers  and  books  by 
machinery  in  connection  with  power  printing  presses.  The 
first  machine  ever  built  was  at  his  expense  and  was  oper- 
ated under  his  direction  in  the  office  of  the  Republican. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  book  publishing  firm  of  G.  P. 
Putnam  &  Co.,  New  York,  in  1857-58.  He  was  a  special 
pupil  of  Louis  Agassiz,  and  entered  the  Lawrence  Scien- 
tific School  of  Harvard,  graduating  in  185 1.  He  was 
called  to  Washington  in  1865,  and  was  made  chairman  of 
a  commission  to  consider  the  subject  of  raising  by  taxation 
the  revenue  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  Government.  Mr. 
Wells  is  a  member  of  several  scientific  societies  in  the 
United  States,  England,  and  France.  He  was  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  bondholders  that  bought  under  foreclosure 
and  sale  and  re-organized  the  Erie  Railway. 

Horace  T.  Draper. — Was  a  member  of  the  school 
during  Mr.  Vaille's  administration.  He  left  Springfield  in 
May,  1842,  for  New  York,  to  follow  the  sea.  He  shipped 
for  a  voyage  to  China,  and  followed  the  sea  from  that  time 
until  1865,  a  period  of  twenty-three  years,  filling  all  posi- 
tions from  boy  to  captain.  He  was  in  the  United  States 
Navy  three  years,  during  the  Rebellion,  and  was  on  board 
the  flag  ship  "  Hartford,"  with  Admiral  Farragut,  at  the 
capture  of  New  Orleans,  April  24,  1862.  He  also  served 
on  several  other  vessels.  He  now  resides  in  Philadelphia, 
Penn. 

Isaac  G.  Bliss. — Graduate  of  Amherst  College,  1844; 
Andover  Theological  Seminary,  1844-47  ?  Yale  Theological 
Seminary,  1845-46;  ordained  at  West  Springfield,  May  4, 
1847.  Missionary  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  at  Erzroom,  Turkey, 
1847-52  ;  Agent  of  American  Bible  Society  for  the  Levant 
since  1857,  at  Constantinople,  Turkey.  He  died  at  Assiout, 
Egypt,  January,  1889,  aged  (yj. 


44  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Ralph  W.  Kirkham. — Born  Feb.  20,  1821.  Cadet  at 
West  Point,  July  i,  1838,  to  July  i,  1842.  Graduated  and 
promoted  brevet  second  lieutenant,  2d  Infantry,  July  i,  1842. 
In  the  war  with  Mexico  was  brevetted  first  lieutenant, 
Aug.  20,  1847  ;  and  captain,  Sept.  13,  1847,  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  conduct  in  the  battles  of  Contreras  and  Churu- 
busco.  He  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Molino-del-Rey, 
Sept.  8,  1847.  He  was  at  the  storming  of  Chapultepec, 
Sept.  13,  1847  ;  for  his  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct 
he  was  brevetted  captain.  He  assisted  in  the  capture  of 
the  City  of  Mexico,  and  was  honorably  mentioned  in  General 
Scott's  dispatches.  While  in  Mexico  he  was  one  of  a 
party  of  six  American  officers  and  an  Englishman  who 
ascended  to  the  summit  of  Popocatapetl.  The  original  num- 
ber that  set  out  on  the  expedition  was  about  one  hundred. 
This  mountain  had  never  been  ascended  since  the  time  of 
Cortez,  A.  D.  15  19.  From  Nov.  6,  1848,  to  Oct.  i,  1849, 
he  was  acting  assistant  adjutant-general  with  headquarters 
at  St.  Louis,  Mo.  ;  and  was  quartermaster  of  the  6th 
Infantry  from  Oct.  i,  1849,  ^^'^^il  Nov.  16,  1854,  when  he 
was  ordered  to  the  Pacific  coast,  as  chief  of  staff  and 
assistant  quartermaster.  He  built  adobe  barracks  at  Fort 
Tejon  and  a  military  post  at  Walla  Walla,  also  constructed 
a  military  road  from  the  latter  place  to  Fort  Colville,  Wash- 
ington Territory,  and  participated  in  the  frontier  Indian 
wars.  During  the  civil  war  he  served  as  chief  quarter- 
master in  the  department  of  California,  being  commis- 
sioned major  and  made  chief  of  staff  Feb.  26,  1863.  For 
faithful  and  meritorious  services  was  made  brevet  lieutenant- 
colonel,  brevet  colonel,  and  brevet  brigadier-general  U.  S. 
Army,  the  latter  rank  being  conferred  upon  him  March  13, 
1865.  He  served  as  chief  quartermaster  of  the  department 
of  California  until  his  resignation  in  1870.  He  was  also 
acting  chief  of  commissariat  in  1866.  Gen.  Kirkham 
resides  at  Oakland,  Cal.  His  grandfather  was  a  soldier  of 
the  Revolutionary  War  and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Trenton,  N.  J.,  Dec.  26,  1776. 


GE\.    RALPH    W.    KIRKHAM. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL.  45 

Dexter  W.  Wells. — He  resided  in  Paducah,  Ky., 
previous  to  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  He  joined  the  Con- 
federate army  when  the  war  first  broke  out,  and  it  is  sup- 
posed that  he  was  killed  in  one  of  the  first  battles. 

George  W.  Blanchard. — Went  to  California  in  1849 
at  the  time  of  the  "gold  fever."  He  died  at  Hawkins  Bar, 
Cal,  January  23,  1850,  aged  33.  One  of  his  relatives 
writes  :  "  He  was  a  Christian  gentleman,  and  much  beloved  ; 
his  loss  was  great  to  his  father  and  friends." 

Samuel  Bowles,  Springfield,  Mass. — The  fearless  and 
brilliant  journalist.  The  blood  of  that  zealous  Pilgrim, 
Capt.  Miles  Standish,  coursing  through  his  veins,  wrought 
an  independence  of  thought  and  inspiration  which  to  this 
day  has  not  found  its  superior.  In  1845  he  went  South 
for  his  health.  On  his  return  to  Springfield  the  same 
year  he  encouraged  his  father  to  start  the  Daily  Republican, 
which  was  done.  In  1865  he  made  his  noted  "journey 
across  the  Continent "  in  company  with  the  late  Vice- 
President  Schuyler  Colfax,  and  Ex-Lieutenant  Governor 
William  Bross  of  Illinois,  an  interesting  account  of  which 
he  afterward  published  in  a  book.  The  Republican,  under 
his  management,  became  better  known  than  any  other 
New  England  newspaper,  and  it  is  conceded  that  he  was 
not  only  a  master,  but  a  leader,  of  his  profession,  taking 
rank  with  such  men  as  Weed,  Raymond,  Bennett,  and 
Greeley.     He  died  January  16,  1878,  at   the  age  of  53. 

Henry  Comstock. —  Went  to  Illinois  in  1836,  and 
engaged  in  printing  at  Carthage.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
Rebellion  was  engaged  in  farming.  He  enlisted  for  three 
years  in  September,  1862,  at  Galesburg,  111.,  in  Company 
A,  14th  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteer  Cavalry;  was  dis- 
charged from  service  June,  1865,  on  surgeon's  certificate  of 
disability,  as  a  sergeant  of  said  company  by  promotion,  by 
order  of  Major-General  George  H.  Thomas.  After  his  dis- 
charge  he  returned  home.      On   recruiting  his  health   he 


46  HISTORY    OF    THE 

went  to  Kansas,  took  up  a  tract  of  land  under  the  home- 
stead act  and  raised  cattle.  In  a  few  years  sold  out  and 
removed  to  Arkansas.      He  died  in  1881,  aged  64. 

Benjamin  K.  Bliss. — In  1834  went  into  a  drug  store  in 
Boston,  remaining  until  1842,  when  he  returned  to  Spring- 
field and  formed  a  copartnership  with  the  late  Theodore 
Bliss  and  Edmund  D.  Chapin,  under  the  firm  of  Bliss, 
Chapin  &  Co.,  engaging  in  the  drug  and  grocery  business. 
At  the  death  of  the  senior  partner,  in  1845,  he  opened  a 
drug  store  on  his  own  account,  also  a  seed  and  nursery 
business,  which  he  carried  on  until  1865,  when  he  disposed 
of  the  drug  department,  continuing  the  other  branch  of  his 
business  until  1867,  then  sold  out  and  established  himself 
in  New  York  in  company  with  his  sons,  firm  of  B.  K.  Bliss 
&  Sons,  and  continued  the  business  until  1885.  He  now 
resides  at  East  Bridgewater,  Mass.  He  was  a  trustee  in  the 
Five  Cents  Savings  Bank,  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  a  director 
in  Pynchon  National  Bank. 

Daniel  Pynchon. — Went  South,  was  a  merchant  in 
Albany,  Ga.,  previous  to  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Return- 
ing to  Springfield,  Mass..  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business 
with  the  late  David  K.  Lee,  for  several  years,  and  afterwards 
with  Albert  M.  Day.  He  was  a  director  in  the  Pynchon 
National  Bank  and  a  trustee  in  the  Five  Cents  Savings 
Bank.  His  sad  death  occurred  June  13,  187 1,  at  the  age  of 
54  years. 

William  Dickinson,  Springfield,  Mass. — Commenced 
work  at  the  U.  S.  Armory  December,  1843,  ^^^s  assistant 
inspector  December,  1848.  He  was  foreman  and  employed 
at  the  Armory  from  January,  1850,  to  June,  1854.  He 
afterwards  was  foreman  at  the  Windsor  rifle  factory,  Wind- 
sor, Vt.  He  died  very  suddenly  while  walking  in  the  street, 
falling  dead  on  the  i8th  of  September,  1863,  at  the  age  of  43. 

Edward  R.  May. — Graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1838. 
A  lawyer.  Resided  at  Norwich,  Conn.  ;  Angola,  Ind.;  and 
St.  Paul,  Minn.     He  died  Aug.  2.  1854,  aged  35. 


B.    K.    BLISS. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL.  47 

William  E.  Bontecou. — Was  a  clerk  in  a  drug  store 
in  Boston,  Mass.,  two  years,  and  then  went  to  New  York 
as  clerk  in  the  same  business  until  1848,  and  thence  to 
Springfield,  Mass.,  in  business  under  the  firm  of  Bontecou 
&  Thayer,  druggists,  until  1 851,  when  he  went  to  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  and  engaged  in  the  patent  medicine  business.  In 
1853  he  accepted  a  position  to  take  charge  of  a  wholesale 
drug  house  in  Toledo,  Ohio, and  soon  after  went  into  a  retail 
house  as  a  partner,  remaining  there  three  years.  Owing  to 
the  ill  effects  of  the  climate  upon  his  health,  he  retired  from 
the  place  and  went  to  New  York,  where  he  was  a  clerk, 
and  engaged  in  business  until  1862.  During  the  late  war 
he  was  appointed  (1862)  assistant  surgeon  in  the  navy — to 
the  gun-boat  "Cayuga"  five  guns,  Napoleon  Harrison  lieu- 
tenant-commanding, on  which  he  served  one  year,  engaged 
in  blockade  duty  off  the  coast  of  Louisiana  until  he  joined 
Admiral  Farragut's  fleet  for  the  attack  on  New  Orleans. 
He  was  on  board  of  the  "  Cayuga"  during  the  action  ;  she 
was  the  flag  ship  of  Admiral  Bailey,  who  was  in  command 
of  the  Second  Division,  which  was  in  advance,  led  by  the 
"  Cayuga,"  in  the  passage  of  the  forts  and  up  the  river. 
Being  badly  damaged  the  vessel  was  ordered  to  New  York 
for  repairs,  and  being  put  out  of  commission,  he  resigned  his 
office,  but  was  soon  after  appointed  to  the  frigate  "Savan- 
nah," on  which  he  served  six  months,  then  resigned.  He 
went  to  California  in  1867,  was  a  clerk  in  San  Francisco, 
Cal.,  over  two  years.  He  then  opened  a  drug  store  in  Austin, 
Nevada,  which  he  sold  out,  and  then  engaged  in  silver 
mining  over  a  year  in  Nevada.  He  is  now  engaged  in 
stock  ranching,  which  occupation  he  has  followed  for  the 
last  twenty  years.      He  resides  at  Santa  Rosa,  Cal. 

Edwin  E.  Bliss. — Graduate  of  Amherst  College,  1837  ; 
Andover  Theological  Seminary,  1839-42  ;  ordained  mis- 
sionary, 1843  ;  a  missionary  at  Trebizond,  Turkey,  1843-52: 
at  Marsovan,  1852-56;  at  Constantinople,  since  1856,  where 
he  now  resides. 


48  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Chauncey  H.  Hubbard. — Graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1840.  He  was  for  two  years  at  Yale  Theological  Seminary. 
He  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  Stanwich,  Conn.,  and 
Sand  Lake,  N.  Y.  After  four  years  of  pastoral  service,  owing 
to  ill  health  he  spent  a  year  in  Europe.  On  his  return 
home  he  was  for  more  than  twenty  years  pastor  of  the  Second 
Congregational  Church  in  Bennington,  Vt.  He  died  August 
22,  1876,  aged  57. 

Francis  A.  Bates,  Marion,  Ala. — He  was  graduated 
at  Wesleyan  University  in  1839.  In  1840-41  principal  of 
the  State  Academy,  Russelville ;  in  1841-43  he  studied 
medicine,  receiving  his  degree  from  the  Louisiana  Medical 
College,  New  Orleans,  La.,  in  1843.  He  was  a  planter  and 
a  successful  physician.  At  the  opening  of  the  Rebellion 
he  entered  the  Confederate  army  as  surgeon.  He  died 
April  23,  1889,  aged  70. 

Seth  H.  Moseley,  New  Haven,  Conn. — Commenced 
service  at  the  Massasoit  House,  Springfield,  Mass.,  in  1843, 
remaining  until  1859.  -^"  eminent  writer,  now  deceased, 
wrote  that  he  was  the  "  inspiring  genius  "  of  that  famous 
hostelry.  He  was  away  at  intervals,  during  that  time, 
teaching  in  Somers,  Conn.,  and  spending  a  part  of  one 
year  at  the  South  on  account  of  ill  health.  He  purchased 
in  1859  one-half  interest  in  the  Brevoort  House,  New 
York,  having  a  successful  business  until  his  health  failed, 
when  he  sold  out  in  1863,  and  went  abroad,  visiting  Great 
Britain,  the  Continent,  and  the  East,  spending  the  winter 
in  Egypt,  and  the  spring  in  the  Holy  Land,  and  returning 
home  in  1864.  In  1867  he  purchased  the  New  Haven 
House,  which  with  his  son  he  still  carries  on.  They  are 
also  associated  together  in  the  management  of  the  rail- 
road restaurant  in  the  Union  station.  New  Haven.  Mr. 
Moseley  has  struggled  nearly  all  his  life  with  ill  health,  but 
his  indomitable  will  and  perseverance  have  enabled  him 
to  reap  the  ample  rewards  which  he  has  so  deservedly 
won. 


SETH    H.    MOSELEY. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL.  49 

George  T.  Bond. — Went  to  Illinois  in  1839  and  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business.  In  a  few  years  he  returned  to 
Springfield,  Mass.,  and  went  into  business  on  the  "Hill" 
with  the  late  Walter  H.  Bowdoin,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Bowdoin  &  Bond.  He  was  agent  and  superintendent  of 
the  Hampden  Paint  Company  from  1852  to  1873.  He  died 
Nov.  17,  1886,  aged  69  years,  10  months. 

James  P.  Eastman. — Clerk  with  H.  &  J.  Brewer.  About 
the  year  1846  he  went  to  New  York  in  the  employ  of 
Messrs.  Sands,  druggists.  He  died  there  (N.  Y.)  in  1848 
at  the  age  of  23. 

William  E.  Trask. — Was  at  Amherst  College  1835-36, 
graduated  at  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  1840. 
Studied  at  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York, 
but  did  not  take  a  degree  or  practice.  He  was  at  one  time  a 
patient  at  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Northampton, 
Mass. ;  was  discharged  April,  1879. 

Charles  Stebbins,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. — Went  to  New 
York  in  1829  as  clerk  in  a  grocery  house,  remaining  six 
years.  In  1835  went  to  Mobile,  Ala.,  where  he  remained 
until  1840.  From  thence  he  removed  to  New  Orleans,  La., 
where  he  resided  twelve  years.  After  an  absence  of  con- 
siderable time  he  returned,  remaining  four  years,  until 
October,  1861.  Was  in  the  city  when  the  rebels  fired  on 
Fort  Sumter,  saw  the  taking  possession  of  the  U.  S.  mint, 
treasury,  custom  house,  forts,  and  other  U.  S.  property. 
Being  a  staunch  Union  man,  he  was  with  many  other  stead- 
fast Union  men  forced  by  public  opinion  to  join  some  mili- 
tary organization,  but  never  was  called  into  active  service. 
He  was  advised  by  a  prominent  Southerner  to  go  North, 
and  he  arranged  for  him  in  getting  a  pass  from  Gen.  D.  E. 
Twiggs  which  took  him  to  the  Ohio  river. 

William  W.  Chapman. — A  cadet  at  West  Point  July 
I,  1833,  to  July  I,  1837;  second  lieutenant  Second  Artil- 
lery, July  I,  1837.   Served  in  the  Florida  war  1837-38;  first 


50  HISTORY    OF    THE 

lieutenant  July  7,  1838,  quartermaster  in  the  war  with  Mex- 
ico :  captain  of  staff  May  11,  1846;  brevet  major  Feb.  23, 
1847,  for  gallantry  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  ;  aid-de-camp 
to  Brevet  Major-General  Wool  in  1847.  He  died  by  his 
own  act  Sept.  27,  1859,  at  Fort  Monroe,  Va.,  aged  45.  He 
was  a  favorite  of  General  Winfield  Scott,  Commander-in- 
Chief  U.  S.  Army. 

Henry  Morris,  Wilbraham,  Mass. — Went  to  sea.  Ship- 
ped as  a  cabin  boy  at  fourteen  years  of  age;  master  of  a 
vessel  in  the  merchant  service  before  he  was  twenty-one 
years  old.  He  was  lost  at  sea  in  March,  1844,  in  the  ship 
"  Mary  Bright,"  being  in  his  twenty-fifth  year. 

Calvin  Wait. — In  1835  he  went  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.  ; 
in  1839  was  in  the  office  of  the  canal  collector  ;  in  1843 
went  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  engaged  with  his  brother  in 
the  canal  forwarding  business  until  1857.  Spent  two  years 
in  the  West.  Returned  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  i860,  and 
in  December  of  that  year  accepted  a  position  in  the  post 
office  in  that  city,  where  he  still  remains. 

Horace  C.  Lee,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  a  dry  goods 
merchant  from  1848  to  1857.  City  clerk  and  treasurer  in 
i860.  On  the  opening  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he 
entered  the  service  as  colonel  of  the  27th  Regiment  Mass. 
Volunteers.  He  was  mustered  in  as  colonel,  with  field  and 
staff  to  date  Sept.  20,  1861.  He  had  command  of  the  reg- 
iment at  the  battle  of  New-Berne,  N.  C,  where  it  met  a 
large  loss  in  killed  and  wounded.  He  was  taken  prisoner 
at  Drury's  Bluff,  Va.,  May  16,  1864,  paroled  at  Charleston, 
S.  C,  Aug.  3,  1864,  and  mustered  out  Sept.  25,  1864. 
General  Lee  was  a  brave  and  meritorious  soldier,  and  greatly 
endeared  himself  to  the  officers  and  men  under  his  com- 
mand. He  was  postmaster  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  from  Jan. 
8,  1872,  to  Jan.  31,  1884.  He  died  June  22,  1884,  in  the 
62d  year  of  his  age. 

Elam  O.  Potter. — Was  a  merchant  for  several  years 
in  New  York,  where  he  died  July  24,  1880,  at  the  age  of  54. 


GEN.    HOKACK    C.    LEE. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL.  51 

JosiAH  B.  Chapin. — Was  Station  agent  at  North  Wilbra- 
ham,  Mass.,  on  the  opening  of  the  Western  Railroad  (now 
the  Boston  &  Albany)  in  1840.  In  1841  he  went  to  Illinois 
and  engaged  in  farming  on  Rock  river.  The  following  year 
he  returned  to  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  entered  the  service 
of  the  Western  Railroad,  filling  the  positions  of  agent, 
conductor,  and  division  superintendent  faithfully  and  with 
regularity,  until  his  death  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  19,  1889, 
in  his  71st  year,  having  been  in  the  service  of  the  company 
forty-nine  years  and  one  month. 

Jonathan  C.  Boylston. — Went  to  Worcester,  Mass., 
was  a  merchant  tailor  for  many  years.  Now  engaged  in 
manufacturing  cement  drain  tile  at  East  Haddam,  Conn., 
where  he  has  resided  since  i860. 

Peter  R.  Potter. — Was  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
in  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  New  York  city.  On  the  outbreak 
of  the  "gold  fever"  he  went  to  California.  He  died  at 
Stockton,  Cal.,  in  1850,  aged  31  years. 

Joel  D.  Barber,  Springfield,  Mass. — A  well  known 
merchant  tailor.  Was  for  three  years  with  Sylvester  Clark, 
tailor;  in  1836  went  to  New  York,  remaining  one  year, 
when  he  returned  to  Springfield;  in  1844  went  to  Palmer, 
Mass.,  where  he  remained  five  years,  and  in  1849  went  to 
New  York.  In  1861  he  returned  to  Springfield,  where  he 
has  since  been  in  business. 

James  Wells,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  clerk  in  the 
drug  store  of  Rust  &  AspinwalK  New  York  city,  at  the  age 
of  thirteen;  with  Catlin  &  Co.,  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1842. 
Returning  to  this  city  he  entered  the  service  of  D.  &  J. 
Ames.  In  1849  was  agent  for  Connecticut  River  Railroad 
Company  ;  has  been  the  faithful  ticket  agent  for  Boston  & 
Albany,  and  Hartford,  New  Haven  &  New  York  Rail- 
roads since  January,  1856. 

William  Stanley  Hatch. — Went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
remaining  until  1859.     Then  went  across  the  plains  with  a 


52  HISTORY    OF    THE 

mule  team  to  Santa  Fe,  and  along  the  Rio  Grande,  thence 
on  the  old  army  trail  to  Fort  Massachusetts  to  Colorado, 
induced  to  take  that  route  from  meeting  "  Kit  Carson  "  one 
day  on  the  plaza  at  Santa  Fe.  Was  in  Colorado  in  i860. 
During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  when  in  Denver,  in  1863 
he  raised  a  company  which  was  joined  to  General  Brown's 
regiment,  and  was  sent  by  General  Evans  down  the  Platte 
to  quiet  the  Indians  ;  had  with  them  the  noted  Indian 
scout  "Jim  Baker."  They  garrisoned  old  Fort  St.  Vrain, 
scouted  the  country  for  some  time,  returned  to  Denver  and 
disbanded.  In  1867  he  returned  to  Cincinnati.  He  now 
resides  at  Riverside,  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio. 

George  Colton. — At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  entered 
the  drug  store  of  William  Sparhawk  &  Co.,  opposite  Court 
Square,  Springfield.  The  late  Henry  Sterns  was  the  silent 
partner.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Sparhawk  the  late  Joseph 
C.  Parsons  became  a  partner  with  Mr.  Sterns,  the  firm 
being  Sterns  &  Parsons.  In  a  few  years  Mr.  Parsons  retired 
from  the  business,  and  it  was  sold  to  the  late  C.  L.  Covell 
and  Mr.  Goodwin  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  the  firm  being  Covell 
&  Goodwin.  In  1840  Mr.  Colton  went  to  Boston,  Mass., 
in  the  employ  of  William  Brown,  druggist.  In  the  autumn 
of  1843  he  took  charge  of  a  store  at  the  West  End,  where 
he  is  now  located. 

AiujAH  W.  Chai'ix. — Was  postmaster  of  Springfield, 
Mass.,  from  September,  1853,  to  Ai:)ril,  1S61.  A  director 
in  Massasoit  Insurance  Company  from  i860  to  1S66,  presi- 
dent of  same  from  1862  until  its  close  in  1866  (owing  to 
the  heavy  losses  met  by  the  great  fire  in  Portland,  Me., 
July  4,  1866,  when,  on  the  17th  same  month,  the  company 
decided  to  close  up  their  business).  He  was  a  corporator 
of  the  Five  Cents  Savings  l^ank  in  1854,  a  trustee  from 
185410  1870;  vice-president  of  same  from  1863  to  1870: 
a  director  of  John  Hancock  National  Bank  from  18(^4  to 
1876.  Was  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  for  sc\'eral 
years.      In  /\pril,  1873,  he  removed  to  Decrfield,  Mass. 


ABIJAH    W.    CHAIMX. 


"old  high  school."  53 

Charles  W.  Hui;i;ard.  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  a  car- 
penter and  builder,  firm  of  Hubbard  &  Hendrick.  He 
died  June  2,  1870,  aged  54. 

Joseph  Miller,  Springfield,  Mass. — A  printer.  He 
died  by  his  own  act,  Nov.  1 1,  1873,  at  the  age  of  49. 

Samuel  M.  Osgood,  New  York  City. — Merchant.  He 
died  at  East  Orange,  N.  J.,  June  22,  1882,  aged  61. 

Calvin  S.  Shattuck. — Prepared  for  the  Congregational 
ministry  at  Oneida  Institute,  and  Auburn  and  Lane  semi- 
naries, completing  his  course  in  1848.  From  1850  to  i860 
was  at  Greenwich,  N.  Y.  Was  six  years  at  Emerald  Grove, 
Wis.  After  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  was  a  missionary  in 
the  Southwest  for  five  years,  his  labors  being  in  the  con- 
tiguous corners  of  Missouri,  Kansas,  Arkansas,  and  the 
Indian  Territory.  Since  the  war  was  five  years  at  Mill- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  and  nine  years  in  Michigan.  In  1888  he  went 
to  Louisiana  to  labor  especially  among  the  many  Northern 
people  settled  there.  He  resides  at  Amite,  Tangipahoa 
Co.,  La.  He  writes  :  "  In  returning  from  school  one  day, 
through  Prospect  street  (now  High  street),  I  heard  most 
fearful  cries  from  the  Card  Factory  pond;  running  to  where 
it  could  be  seen  I  found  that  a  big  boy  had  broken  through 
the  weak  ice  of  spring,  and  was  using  up  his  strength  in 
unearthly  outcries  instead  of  effective  exertions,  but  just 
then  a  man  from  the  factory  extended  a  pole  to  him,  and  as 
he  clung  to  it  drew  him  safely  ashore.  As  the  boy  rose  to 
his  feet  the  man  said,  'There  !  don't  you  ever  make  such 
a  noise  again  if  you  are  drowning.'  " 

Otis  R.  Potter. — At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  went  to 
New  York  as  clerk  for  John  J.  Brower,  hardware  mer- 
chant. In  1838  he  went  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was 
principal  of  one  of  the  public  schools  for  three  years ;  a 
part  of  that  time  he  was  president  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion. In  1842  he  returned  to  New  York  and  was  in  the 
employ  of  Mr.  Tappan,  the  originator  of  the  trade  agency 
business  in  the  United  States.     In   1848  he  went  South, 


54  HISTORV    OF    THE 

traveling  in  Louisiana  and  other  Southern  states  for  sev- 
eral months.  Returning  to  New  York  he  went  into  the 
mercantile  agency  business,  the  firm  being  O.  R.  Potter  & 
Co,  In  1858  they  dissolved  partnership  and  sold  out  to  Kil- 
lop  &  Wood.  He  subsequently  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business,  in  which  he  remained  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  5,  1867,  at  the  age  of  54. 
One  of  his  esteemed  friends  writes  :  "  He  was  by  birth  a 
typical  New  Englander  ;  a  staunch  abolitionist  in  the  days 
when  it  took  backbone  and  grit  to  be  one.  He  was  liberal 
in  general  lines  of  thought  and  warmly  interested  in  all 
philanthropic  schemes.  Socially  he  was  of  genial  disposi- 
tion and  of  hospitable  tendencies,  an  admirer  of  simplicity 
and  straightforwardness  of  speech.  While  not  belonging 
to  any  church  he  had  a  strong  tendency  to  Unitarianism. 
He  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  New  England 
Club  in  New  York  city." 

William  H.  Barber,  Springfield,  Mass. — Employed  at 
U.  S.  Armory  from  1837  to  1861.  From  1862  was  U.  S. 
inspector  at  Windsor,  Vt.,  Norwich,  Middletown,  and  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  until  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 
Afterwards  was  hotel  clerk  until  1887. 

Warren  Mills,  Springfield,  Mass — A  prominent  con- 
tractor and  builder  for  nearly  forty  years. 

James  Kirkham,  Springfield,  Mass. — Clerk  with  Henry 
Sargeant,  jeweler,  from  1837  to  1845.  Firm  of  Woodworth 
&  Kirkham  from  1845  to  1851.  In  business  on  his  own 
account  from  1852  to  1858;  a  part  of  the  time  his  brother 
was  a  partner.  President  of  Pynchon  Bank  from  1857  to 
1862;  president  of  First  National  liank  from  its  organiza- 
tion in  1863.  An  able  financier.  A  member  of  the  com- 
mon council  and  its  president  in  1856.  An  alderman  in 
1883.  A  director  in  the  Mutual  P'irc  Assurance  Company, 
Street  Railway  Comjiany  of  this  city,  and  City  Library 
Association,  and  treasurer  of  Oak  (irove  cemetery. 


JAMES    KIRKHAiM. 


"old  high  school."  55 

Samuel  R.  Newell,  Springfield,  Mass. — Firm  of  New- 
ell Brothers  Manufacturing"  Company.  In  1838  clerk  in  the 
jobbing  house  of  Bowles  &  Childs,  Hartford,  Conn.;  in 
1843  engaged  in  the  rubber  store  of  Ames  &  Newell,  New 
York,  his  brother,  Nelson  C.  Newell,  being  a  partner.  The 
brothers  in  a  few  years  went  to  Longmeadow,  Mass.,  and 
began  the  making  of  buttons  with  the  late  Dimond  Chandler. 
Afterwards  they  bought  out  Mr.  Chandler.  About  1861 
they  removed  their  business  to  Springfield.  Samuel  R. 
Newell  was,  with  his  brother,  half  owner  in  the  Dickinson 
Hard  Rubber  Company  and  president  of  the  same.  He 
died  Dec.  4,  1878,  aged  56. 

Nelson  C.  Newell,  Springfield,  Mass. — Firm  of  Newell 
Brothers  Manufacturing  Company.  Was  among  the  first 
to  engage  in  the  manufacture  of  India  rubber  at  Naugatuck, 
Conn.,  also  the  first  of  the  button  manufacturers  in  this 
vicinity.  He  is  president  and  treasurer  of  Newell  Brothers 
Manufacturing  Company,  a  director  in  the  City  National 
Bank,  and  in  the  Massachusetts  Mutual  Life  Insurance 
Company.  Was  member  of  the  common  council  in  1871 
and  1872.  A  successful  manufacturer  and  an  estimable 
citizen. 

Eli  H.  Patch,  Springfield,  Mass. — Boarding  stables. 
Member  of  the  common  council  in  1862,  1863,  and  1869, 
alderman  in  1873. 

N.  Denslow  Gay,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  in  the  hat 
and  fur  business  in  this  city  for  many  years  ;  removed  to 
Worcester,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  the  flour  and  grain  trade. 
Now  resides  in  this  city. 

Delius  Allin,  Middletown,  Conn. — Was  in  the  tool 
department  at  the  U.  S.  Armory,  Springfield,  Mass.,  for 
several  years.  He  went  South  and  for  several  years  pre- 
vious to  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  was  master  armorer  at 
the  U.  S.  Arsenal  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  since  and  at 
present  with  Russell  Manufacturing  Company  at  Middle- 
town,  Conn. 


56  HISTORY    OF    THE 

M.  L.  Sykes,  New  York  City. — Was  clerk  for  Jonathan 
Bangs,  on  the  Hill,  for  about  two  years,  and  nearly  one 
year  with  F.  M.  Carew  &  Co.,  and  one  year  with  D.  & 
J.  Ames  at  their  paper  mill  at  Chicopee  Falls,  Mass.  He 
began  railway  business  on  the  New  Haven,  Hartford  & 
Springfield  Railroad  in  1844.  During  its  construction 
between  Springfield  and  Hartford  was  engaged  by  William 
Beckwith  division  engineer  and  served  in  the  engineer 
corps,  Frederick  Harbach  being  resident  engineer  of  the 
whole  line,  and  Capt.  John  Childe  chief  engineer.  Mr. 
Sykes  was  for  a  short  time  engaged  with  the  engineers 
under  Mr.  Beckwith  in  field  work  upon  the  Connecticut 
River  Railroad  between  Springfield  and  Cabotville,  now 
Chicopee.  He  held  the  position  of  general  clerk  to  Mr. 
Harbach,  resident  engineer,  with  office  duties  at  Spring- 
field, and  as  pay-master  on  the  work.  Soon  after  the  open- 
ing of  the  road  to  Hartford,  where  it  connected  with  the 
Hartford  &  New  Haven  Railroad  (which  was  laid  with 
strap  rail  and  ran  some  of  the  old  style  English  coaches), 
he  was  transferred  to  the  freight  office  under  R.  N.  Dowd, 
accent  at  New  Haven,  and  then  to  the  general  offices  of  the 
company  at  Hartford,  and  became  clerk  to  the  president, 
Charles  F.  Pond,  and  successively  to  general  superintend- 
ents Amasa  Stone,  Jr.,  E.  H.  Brodhead,  and  Chief  Engin- 
eer T.  Willis  Pratt.  In  those  early  days  of  railroads  we 
have  the  facts  that  one  clerk  at  headquarters  on  a  railroad 
sixty-two  miles  long  performed  the  duties  not  only  of  the 
general  office  work,  but  also  acted  as  a  reserve  for  station 
agents  when  absent  for  cause,  spare  conductor,  auditor  of 
station  reports,  and  pay-master  of  the  road,  all  of  which 
and  various  other  duties  he  performed  and  remained  with 
the  company  until  1853,  passing  through  various  grades  up 
to  the  post  of  superintendent. 

During  these  nine  years,  however,  he  left  the  road  for  a 
short  time  in  185 1  at  the  desire  of  the  late  Chester  W. 
Chapin  and  took  the  superintendency  of  the  Connecticut 
River  Railroad    after  Mr.  Chajiin  l>ccanie  president  of  that 


M.    L.    SYKES, 


"old  high  school.  57 

company.  Owing  to  his  desire  to  return  to  the  Hartford 
&  New  Haven  Railroad  he  resigned  his  office  upon  the 
Connecticut  River  road  and  returned  to  his  old  position 
upon  the  Hartford  &  New  Haven.  During  the  interval 
of  a  change,  in  1853  or  1854,  he  was  for  a  short  time  in  the 
eqiploy  of  the  late  D.  L.  Harris  and  A.  D.  Briggs,  the  emi- 
nent bridge  builders. 

He  was  superintendent  of  the  Morris  &  Essex  Rail- 
road in  New  Jersey,  and  resigned  the  office  in  1854  to 
take  charge  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  as  superin- 
tendent under  Hon.  Edwin  D.  Morgan,  president,  where  he 
remained  until  1857,  having  been  promoted  from  the  grade 
of  superintendent  to  that  of  vice-president,  at  which  time  he 
resigned  and  went  to  Chicago  as  superintendent  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Chicago  &  Milwaukee  Railroad,  remain- 
ing there  three  years. 

In  i860  he  left  the  Chicago  &  Milwaukee  and  accepted 
the  position  of  vice-president  of  the  Michigan  Southern 
&  Northern  Indiana  Railroad,  and  remained  with  the 
company  five  years,  leaving  it  while  filling  the  office 
of  president,  in  1865,  to  return  to  New  York  as  vice- 
president  of  the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  &  Western  Rail- 
road, where  he  served  from  July,  1865,  until  January,  1867. 
He  went  to  Cleveland,  O.,  in  January,  1867,  as  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Cleveland,  Painesville  &  Ashtabula  Railroad, 
under  Amasa  Stone,  Jr.,  president. 

In  July,  1867,  he  resigned  from  the  Cleveland,  Paines- 
ville Si  Ashtabula  and  again  returned  to  New  York,  having 
accepted  the  office  of  second  vice-president  of  the  Chicago 
&  Northwestern  Railway  under  Hon.  William  B.  Ogden, 
president.  His  connection  with  this  company  has  now 
continued  twenty-two  years  as  follows  :  Second  vice-presi- 
dent from  July  22,  1867,  to  June  30,  1870,  vice-president 
from  June  30,  1870,  to  June  30,  1873,  and  vice-president, 
secretary,  and  treasurer  since  June  30,  1873,  which  offices 
he  now  holds.  In  connection  with  this  company  he  is  also 
the  vice-president,  treasurer,  and  assistant  secretary  of  the 


58  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  &  Omaha  Railway  Com- 
pany in  New  York,  and  an  officer  of  several  minor  railway 
companies  comprised  within  the  systems  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  and  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  & 
Omaha  Railway  Companies.  He  was  born  in  Springfield, 
Mass.,  March  26,  1826. 

President  Sykes  is  possessed  of  great  executive  ability, 
and  in  the  management  of  the  various  roads  which  have 
come  under  his  supervision  he  has  given  his  large  expe- 
rience without  stint,  and  has  discharged  the  duties  imposed 
upon  him  with  fidelity  and  great  care.  He  has  the  single 
purpose  of  serving  the  interest  of  the  public,  but  is  not 
unmindful  of  that  watchfulness  necessary  to  keep  and 
better  the  service  of  the  various  companies  which  he  repre- 
sents, bringing  the  most  satisfactory  results  to  both  the 
stockholders  and  the  public. 

LiNViLLE  J.  Hall. — When  about  fifteen  years  of  age  he 
entered  the  printing  office  of  the  Springfield  (Mass.)  Gazette, 
then  published  by  Josiah  Taylor.  In  1844  he  was  a  com- 
positor on  the  Daily  Republican,  then  established  by  Samuel 
Bowles,  Sen.  Afterwards  he  was  a  compositor  on  Zioii  s 
Hc7-ald,  Boston,  Mass.  From  thence  he  went  to  Cabotville, 
now  Chicopee,  Mass.,  and  was  employed  on  the  Cabotville 
Chronicle.  He  was  a  printer  for  about  twelve  years.  While 
engaged  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  upon  John  C.  Fremont's  report 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  California  in  1848,  he  was 
seized  with  the  spirit  of  adventure,  and  in  November  joined 
the  organization  of  the  Hartford  Mining  and  Trading 
Company.  In  Feb.,  1849,  he  left  East  River,  New^  York, 
in  the  ship  "  Henry  Lee,"  for  voyage  to  California  via 
Cape  Horn.  The  ship  was  well  provisioned  and  freighted 
with  merchandise.  The  company  had  a  paid  up  capital, 
including  the  ship,  of  $37,000.  During  the  voyage  ol 
seven  months  he  printed  a  book  of  eighty-eight  pages 
containing  a  description  of  scenes  aboard  ship  and  along 
shore,  which  he  distributed  to  the  one  hundred  and   thirty 


r 

1 

REV.    LINVILLE   J.    HALL. 


"old  high  school."  59 

passengers  and  friends  gratuitously.  In  185  i  he  returned 
to  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  printing,  and  in 
lecturing  upon  the  early  history  of  California,  and  its  gold 
fields.  In  1854-5  he  pursued  a  theological  course  in  the 
Biblical  Institute  at  Concord,  New  Hampshire  (now  the 
Bo^ston  University).  For  the  last  thirty-four  years  he  has 
been  engaged  in  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church, — twelve  years  in  New  Hampshire,  six  years  in 
Massachusetts,  and  sixteen  years  in  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
In  1887,  he  was  appointed  by  the  governor  of  Colorado 
chaplain  to  the  Colorado  State  Penitentiary  at  Canon  City, 
Colo.,  which  position  he  now  occupies. 

Luther  Bliss,  Jr.,  Springfield,  Mass. — Born  October 
30,  182 1.  Was  clerk  about  two  years  for  Henry  Adams, 
who  had  a  market  and  grocery  store  on  Sanford  street. 
From  1850  engaged  in  farming  and  teaming  about  ten 
years,  and  then  in  the  grocery  business  about  twelve 
years.  Having  sold  out,  in  1861  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  A.  F.  Cowles  under  the  firm  name  of  Cowles  &  Bliss 
and  engaged  in  the  confectionery  and  fruit  business  for  a 
period  of  ten  years.  Desiring  a  change  in  business  he  sold 
out  and  in  1871  formed  a  partnership  with  Chapin  & 
Wooster,  wholesale  millinery.  The  firm  was  then  Chapin, 
Wooster  &  Bliss,  which  was  continued  about  five  years. 
In  1875  he  opened  a  stove  and  tin  ware  manufacturing  busi- 
ness with  A.  M.  Galpin,  the  firm  name  being  Galpin  & 
Bliss,  which  they  continued  for  about  four  years.  Since 
the  death  of  his  father  (in  May,  1886),  he  has  been  engaged 
as  executor  and  trustee  under  his  will  in  settling  his  estate. 

Francis  T.  Potter. — When  about  sixteen  years  old  he 
removed  from  Springfield,  Mass.,  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  to  Newstead,  N.  Y.;  engaged  in 
farming  about  five  years.  His  parents  moving  to  Wiscon- 
sin, he  went  to  Canada  and  taught  school  in  the  London 
district  about  two  years.  From  thence  he  went  to  New 
York  city,  where  he  learned    marine  steam    engineering. 


6o  HISTORY    OF    THE 

When  the  "gold  fever"  broke  out  in  1849  he  embarked  on 
a  vessel  bound  for  California  via  Cape  Horn  and  was  six 
months  in  making  the  voyage.  He  was  chief  engineer  on 
one  of  the  steamers  running  between  San  Francisco  and 
Panama.  He  died  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  July  6,  1879, 
aged  57. 

Horace  R.  Ferre,  San  Francisco,  Cal. — In  1836  he 
entered  the  dry  goods  store  of  Draper  &  Bailey,  Spring- 
field, Mass.,  where  he  remained  three  years.  He  went  to 
New  York  in  1839,  engaged  in  a  dry  goods  jobbing  house 
until  1849,  when  he  left  for  California  in  the  bark  "Straf- 
ford "  around  Cape  Horn,  arriving  at  San  Francisco  after 
a  voyage  of  nearly  seven  months.  After  towing  the  bark 
up  the  Sacramento  river  to  Sutterville  he  went  to  the 
mines  at  a  place  in  Calaveras  county  now  called  "  Dry- 
town."  In  July,  1850,  he  went  to  Sacramento  and  was  the 
first  regular  express  messenger  between  that  place  and 
San  Francisco.  In  October,  185 1,  he  started  an  express 
line  from  Sacramento  to  Nevada  City  for  Freeman  &  Co. 
(afterwards  Adams  &  Co.),  and  was  superintendent  of  the 
line  until  February,  1855.  From  that  time  until  July,  1869, 
was  engaged  in  quartz  mining.  He  then  removed  to  Oak- 
land, Cal.,  and,  with  the  exception  of  about  three  years  in 
Virginia  City,  Nev.,  has  resided  in  San  Francisco  and  Oak- 
land. 

James  Goodman. — Went  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  dry  goods  trade.  After  two  years,  went  to 
New  York  and  was  in  a  dry  goods  jobbing  house.  In  a 
few  years  returned  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  engaged  in 
book  publishing,  binding,  etc.  Was  special  agent  of  the 
Merchants'  Insurance  Company  of  Hartford,  seven  years, 
member  of  the  common  council  of  Hartford,  three  years, 
and  secretary  of  the  Charter  Oak  Insurance  Company, 
three  years.  In  1866  he  removed  to  Boston,  and  established 
an  insurance  agency.  Has  served  three  years  as  a  member 
of  the  common  council  of  Boston. 


JAMES    GOODMAN. 


"old  high  school."  6i 

John  W.  Russell,  Springfield,  Mass. — At  the  age  of 
fifteen  went  to  learn  the  machinist's  trade  of  Zelotes  Lom- 
bard. From  1846  to  1849  was  superintendent  machine 
works  of  Slate  &  Brown,  Windsor  Locks,  Conn.  He  went 
to  California  in  1849,  and  returned  in  1851  to  Springfield, 
Mass.  In  1855  he  went  to  Wisconsin,  engaged  in  farming. 
From  1 861  to  1863  was  employed  at  the  U.  S.  Armory. 
In  1865  he  commenced  business  on  his  own  account,  and 
is  now  of  the  firm  of  Russell  &  Day,  machinists  of  this 
city. 

James  G.  Allen,  Springfield,  Mass. — Studied  law  in 
the  office  of  Beach  &  Bond.  In  1853  he  removed  to  Palmer, 
Mass.,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law.  He  was 
appointed  judge  of  the  police  court  for  Eastern  Hampden 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  the  House  in  1867. 
He  died  Dec.  10,  1878,  aged  58. 

•  Benjamin  F.  Warner,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  clerk 
fn  the  Chicopee  Bank  when  it  commenced  business  in  1836. 
On  the  resignation  in  1841  of  Henry  Seymour,  the  first 
cashier,  he  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  March  19, 
1841,  being  then  not  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  resigned 
his  position  to  accept  the  cashiership  of  the  Continental 
Bank,  New  York,  his  resignation  being  accepted  Feb.  29, 
1856.  He  was  elected  cashier  of  the  Continental  Bank 
Feb.  5,  1856,  and  resigned  Feb.  16,  1861.  He  died  at 
Hartford,  Conn.,  July  12,  1862,  aged  42. 

Lewis  Stebbins,  Springfield,  Mass. — He  was  drowned 
while  bathing,  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  June  7,  1834,  aged  18. 

Israel  Trask.  —  It  is  said  that  he  was  lost  overboard 
from  a  steamer  from  New  Orleans  bound  to  New  York, 
several  years  ago. 

James  S.  Bryant,  Hartford,  Conn. — He  was  for  over 
thirty  years  book-keeper  for  Day,  Owen  &  Co.,  afterwards 
for  Root  &  Childs.     He  died  Dec.  20,  1884. 


62  HISTORY    OF    THE 

John  Pvnchon. — Went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  185  i,  from 
thence  removed  to  Cleveland,  O.,  but  soon  after  settled  in 
Chicago,  111.,  where  he  established  an  iron  axle  foundry, 
firm  of  Pynchon  &  Willard.  His  health  being  much 
impaired  he  had  retired  from  business  for  several  years 
previous  to  his  death.  He  died  suddenly  Feb.  16,  1888, 
at  the  age  of  6]). 

William  H.  D.  Callender. — Was  in  the  employ  of 
the  Western  (now  the  Boston  &  Albany)  Railroad,  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  was  cashier  of  the  State  Bank,  Hartford, 
Conn.,  from  Oct.  i,  1852,10  Sept.  i,  1865.  He  died  at 
East  Longmeadow,  Mass.,  Nov.  3,  1872,  aged  47  years. 

Charles  S.  Faulkner,  Keene,  N.  H. — Was  a  woolen 
manufacturer.     He  died  July  28,  1879,  aged  60  years. 

George  Tyler. — Was  for  four  years  under  Capt.  John 
Child  in  the  construction  (or  until  the  road  was  finished). of 
the  Western  (now  the  Boston  &  Albany)  Railroad  from 
Worcester  to  Albany,  N.  Y.  He  resided  in  New  Orleans 
several  years.  Previous  to  1850  was  in  the  service  of  a  rail- 
road in  Vermont,  at  that  time  (1850)  was  appointed  engi- 
neer on  the  l^oston  &  Worcester  Railroad  at  Boston,  and 
remained  there  until  the  road  was  consolidated  with  the 
Western  Railroad.  Was  town  engineer  of  Brookline,  Mass., 
about  five  years.  He  now  resides  on  a  farm  in  Tekamah, 
Neb. 

Thomas  S.  Childs,  Washington,  D.  C. — Graduated  at 
the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York  in  1847.  Studied 
four  years  at  the  Theological  Seminary,  Princeton,  N.  J., 
graduating  in  1850.  For  fifteen  years,  from  185  i  to  1866, 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Hartford,  Conn. 
Was  pastor  of  the  First  Church,  Norwalk,  Conn.,  from  1866 
to  1870.  Professor  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  1871  to  1878,  and  in  the  University  at  Wooster, 
O.,  1880  to  1882.  Is  now  paying  some  attention  to  the 
Indian  question,  having  published  several  books  and  [:>am- 


REV.   THOMAS    S.    CHILDS. 


"  OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL.  63 

phlets.     Was  on  a  commission  which  successfully  negoti- 
ated a  treaty  with  the  Southern  Ute  Indians  in  1888. 

George  P.  Stebbins,  Springfield,  Mass. —  For  over 
forty  years  compositor  and  foreman  of  the  Springfield 
Republican  ;  began  learning  his  trade  with  Samuel  Bowles, 
the  founder  of  the  Republican,  and  has  continued  in  the 
service  of  the  father,  son,  and  grandson,  to  the  present 
time.  Mr.  Stebbins  truly  represents  the  New  England 
character  for  constant  and  intelligent  work,  faithful  alike  to 
himself  and  his  employers.  In  1881  he  was  a  member  of 
the  common  council  from  Ward  Three.  In  1882  he  repre- 
sented the  voters  of  his  representative  district  in  the  state 
Legislature  with  ability. 

William  White  Bliss. — Graduated  at  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  April  4,  1844.  Practiced  medicine  in 
Griffin,  Ga.,  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  New  York  city.  He  wrote 
a  remarkable  medical  book  entitled,  "  Woman  and  Her 
Thirty  Years'  Pilgrimage."  The  book  was  published  in  New 
York  in  1869.  He  died  at  Orange,  N.  J.,  Sept.  5,  1873, 
aged  51. 

Warren  D.  Tobey. —  Was  in  the  stove  and  tin  ware 
business.     He  died  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1852,  aged  34. 

Enoch  J.  Hibbard. — A  merchant  tailor.  He  went  to 
Milwaukee,  Wis.,  many  years  ago. 

Henry  M.  Hall. — A  molder.  He  died  at  Elizabeth- 
port,  N.  J.,  in  1864,  aged  41. 

Joshua  Frost. — He  was  at  Amherst  College  1831-33. 
He  became  a  portrait  painter  and  pursued  the  business  in 
Springfield  and  Boston,  Mass.,  and  for  some  time  in  Geor- 
gia. On  his  return  north  he  located  in  Hartford,  Conn., 
where  he  died  March  5,  1883,  aged  66. 

George  H.  Hubbard. — Was  employed  at  the  U.  S. 
Armory  twenty-three  years,  and  Winchester  Rifle  factory. 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  fifteen  years.  In  1884  he  went  to 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  and  engaged  in  the  bakery  business. 


64  HISTORY    OF    THE 

John  F.  Pratt. — Was  a  blacksmith.  He  died  at 
Bellefonte,  Penn.,  Sept.  4,  i860,  aged  33. 

Daniel  Ferre,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  an  engineer 
on  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad.  He  was  killed  by  accident 
on  the  road. 

George  E.  Osbokn,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  Dec.  7, 
1834,  aged  1 8. 

J.  Hubbard  Clark,  Springfield,  Mass. — A  miller. 

Amaziah  S.  Warner,  Springfield,  Mass.  —  Went  to 
Philadelphia,  Penn.,  in  1836,  to  learn  the  machinist's  trade. 
Was  employed  at  the  U.  S.  Armory  about  six  years.  In 
1862  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cartridges  with 
Capt.  H.  C.  Lombard.      He  is  now  employed  at  his  trade. 

James  Swan,  Jr. — He  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia, 
Penn.  He  graduated  at  the  medical  college,  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  in  1846,  and  succeeded  to  his  father's  practice  in 
Springfield,  Mass.,  after  his  death,  the  same  year.  Owing 
to  his  consumptive  nature  he  was  compelled  to  seek  a 
warmer  climate.  He  went  to  Florida,  thence  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal.,  where  he  died  Feb.  8,  185  i,  aged  25  years  and 
10  months. 

James  E.  Russell,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  with  Pro- 
fessor Twining,  who  made  the  survey  for  the  railroad  to 
Hartford  from  this  city  in  1838.  Was  clerk  in  the  post 
office  four  years  under  Albert  Morgan,  postmaster,  and 
postal  clerk  between  Boston  and  Albany  in  1843.  Was 
appointed  conductor  by  Superintendent  James  Barnes  of 
the  Western,  now  the  Boston  &  Albany,  Railroad  in  184G. 
Retired  from  the  railroad  service  in  1857.  At  one  time 
was  proprietor  of  the  American  House,  which  stood  where 
the  Boston  &  Albany  granite  building  now  is.  Since  1858 
has  been  the  efficient  register  of  deeds  for  Hampden  county, 
and  is  vice-president  and  trustee  of  the  Five  Cents  Sav- 
ings Bank. 


JAMES    E.    RUSSELL. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL."  65 

John  S.  Beere.— Taught  school  in  South  Wilbraham 
and  Monson,  Mass.,  Somers,  Conn.,  and  Ithaca,  N.  Y., 
about  three  years.  He  subsequently  went  to  New  Orleans, 
La.,  and  engaged  in  the  wholesale  trade  of  wood  and  willow 
ware  and  cordage.  In  the  spring  of  1861  he  canie  north 
a-nd  settled  at  his  old  home,  South  Wilbraham,  Mass.,  and 
engaged  in  farming.  His  health  failing  he  soon  retired  from 
business.  He  died  June  19,  1866,  in  the  45th  year  of  his 
age. 

Lester  F.  Sikes,  West  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  a 
tinsmith.  His  sad  death  was  occasioned  by  being  buried 
in  a  well  in  which  he  was  at  work,  Sept.  23,  1875,  ^t  the 
age  of  59  years. 

Edwin  T.  Rogers,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  in  the  livery 
business  about  the  year  1844.  Afterwards  with  his  father, 
the  late  "Commodore"  Sable  Rogers,  in  a  meat  market 
and  provision  store  on  the  "  Hill."  He  died  July  13,  1868, 
aged  49. 

Henry  W.  Chapman,  Springfield,  Mass. — Owing  to  ill 
health  he  was  not  in  business.  He  died  Nov.  28,  1855,  aged 
38.  He  was  a  brother  of  Major  William  W.  Chapman, 
U.  S.  Army,  who  died  at  Fort  Monroe,  Va. 

Benjamin  S.  Richardson,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  a 
printer,  and  was  employed  by  Lewis  Briggs,  proprietor  of 
the  old  Springfield  Gazette.     He  died  May  13,  1863,  aged  44. 

F.  J.  Parker,  Springfield,  Mass. — In  the  clothing  bus- 
iness 1872-75.  Was  a  flour  and  grain  dealer  for  many 
years.     In  1889  removed  to  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

John  Kimberlv,  Springfield,  Mass. — Merchant.  He 
succeeded  in  business  his  father,  Ezra  Kimberly,  who  died 
in  June,  1867.  A  director  in  the  John  Hancock  National 
Bank  since  1867. 

Isaac  Mills,  Springfield,  Mass. — In  185 1  was  of  the 
firm  of  Dean,   Packard   &   Mills,   car  manufacturers.       In 


66  HISTORY    OF    THE 

1853  was  in  the  employ  of  E.  Palmer  &  Co.,  at  the  pioneer 
coal  yard  of  Springfield.  This  yard  was  first  opened  in 
1838  by  James  B.  Robb,  son  of  Col.  John  Robb,  formerly 
superintendent  at  the  U.  S.  Armory.  The  late  Edmund 
Palmer  succeeded  Mr.  Robb  and  continued  the  business 
several  years,  when  the  late  Roderick  Ashley  became  a 
partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  E.  Palmer  &  Co.  Mr. 
Mills,  having  succeeded  to  the  business,  still  continues  it  at 
the  old  yard  and  has  fully  sustained  the  high  reputation 
enjoyed  by  his  predecessors. 

Samuel  O.  Gay,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  clerk  of  the 
common  council  in  1853.  Firm  of  Sanderson  &  Gay, 
hatters  for  many  years.  He  removed  to  New  Haven,  Conn., 
engaged  in  manufacturing,  where  he  died  June  18,  i860, 
aged  42. 

John  B.  Foot,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  one  of  the 
first  engineers  on  the  Western  Railroad,  now  the  Boston 
&  Albany,  for  twenty-eight  years  an  engineer  on  that  road, 
and  six  years  on  the  Boston  &  Lowell  Railroad.  In  1877 
he  retired  from  the  service. 

James  H.  I^utterfield. — Was  employed  by  the  New 
London  Northern  Railroad  Company.  He  died  in  Yantic 
village  (Norwich),  Conn.,  Nov.  9,  1884,  aged  68. 

Oliver  B.  Bannon,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  born  in 
Middletown,  Conn.,  Dec.  18,  1816.  Removed  to  this  city 
when  young  ;  went  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  as  apprentice  at 
Daniel  Copeland's  machine  shop,  remaining  about  four 
years  ;  thence  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  employed  at  Burbeck's 
machine  shop;  was  employed  by  l^oston  &  Albany  Rail- 
road Company  as  yardmaster  at  this  station  about  four 
years.  Since  August  i,  1837,  has  been  employed  at  U.  S. 
Armory,  except  at  short  intervals.  He  was  one  of  the 
selectmen  of  the  town  in  1850,  an  alderman  in  the  first 
city  government  in  1852  ;  was  elected  in  i860  a  represent- 
ative in  the  Legislature. 


OLIVER   B.    BANNON. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL."  6/ 

Henry  D.  Lay. — Was  born  in  Agawam,  Mass.,  Jan.  8, 
1824.  Went  to  East  Granby,  Conn.,  in  1841,  to  learn  car- 
riage making  ;  in  1843  was  in  the  employ  of  the  late  David 
Smith,  carriage  maker,  Springfield,  Mass.  He  removed  to 
West  Newbury,  Mass.,  in  1845,  ^^^^  engaged  in  business  on 
his  own  account.  He  has  served  his  adopted  town  in  vari- 
ous capacities  ;  was  clerk  five  years,  prudential  committee 
three  years,  and  was  selectman,  assessor,  and  overseer  of  the 
poor  five  years  in  each  office.  In  1864  he  enlisted  for  one 
year  in  the  U.  S.  service  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature  in  1874, 
and  voted  to  rescind  the  resolutions  of  censure  on  Charles 
Sumner  passed  by  a  previous  Legislature.  Is  now  com- 
mander of  Major  Boyd  Encampment,  Post  No.  151,  Massa- 
chusetts Department  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Oliver  Butterfield. — Was  in  the  printing  business 
at  Lyons,  Michigan.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he 
was  in  the  gun-boat  service  on  the  Western  rivers,  and  was 
wounded  at  the  taking  of  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson.  He 
died  at  Mound  City  in  1862,  aged  42. 

Henry  Butterfield,  Stafford  Springs,  Conn. — Hard- 
ware merchant. 

Horatio  Sexton,  Springfield,  Mass. — Followed  the  sea 
for  a  short  time.     He  died  in  this  city  Oct.  2,  1859,  aged  40. 

Horace  Cutler,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  in  the  dry 
goods  business  about  twenty  years,  firm  of  Cutler  &  Rol- 
lins. Employed  at  the  U.  S.  Armory  from  1863  until  his 
death,  March  26,  1885,  aged  71. 

Lewis  Cutler,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  in  the  dry 
goods  business  for  many  years,  as  clerk  for  Tinkham  &  Co., 
and  with  Cutler  &  Rollins.     He  died  April  15,  1884,  aged  65. 

Harvey  E.  Moseley. — Engaged  in  the  insurance  busi- 
ness in  Springfield,  Mass.,  from  1870  to  1877.  Was  con- 
ductor on  the  Hartford  &  New  Haven  Railroad  for  several 
years.     He  died  at  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Nov.  17,  1887,  aged  65. 


68  HISTORY    OF    THE 

William  H.  Russell. — Born  Oct.  25,  1818.  A  civil 
engineer.  Began  as  a  line  boy  in  1836  with  a  surveying 
party,  and  has  steadily  moved  forward  through  all  the 
departments  of  civil  engineering,  serving  under  those  emi- 
nent engineers,  Capt.  William  H.  Swift,  Major  George  W. 
Whistler,  and  Capt.  John  Child,  all  of  whom  were  graduates 
of  West  Point  Military  Academy.  In  1837  he  was  engaged 
in  locating  the  Western  Railroad,  west  of  the  Connecticut 
river,  under  the  charge  of  I.  C.  Chesborough.  When  the 
railroad  was  completed,  and  the  trains  commenced  to  run  to 
Albany  in  1842,  he  retired  from  the  service  for  a  time,  and 
removed  to  Ellington,  Conn.  When  the  Springfield  & 
Hartford  Railroad  began  to  be  built,  he  was  induced  to 
return  to  his  former  business.  In  the  spring  of  1845  ^e 
was  employed  by  Clyde  &  Stone,  contractors,  to  superintend 
a  gang  of  men  on  the  section  between  this  city  and  Long- 
meadow.  He  was  afterwards  engaged  on  the  line  between 
New  Haven  and  New  York.  Mr.  Russell  was  three  years 
in  surveying  and  locating  the  Cheshire  Railroad.  He  also 
surveyed  for  the  New  London  and  Palmer  road,  and  assisted 
in  the  extension  of  the  New  London  road  to  Grout's 
Corners.  For  two  years  he  was  engaged  on  the  Passumpsic 
road  line  from  St.  Johnsbury  to  Barton,  Vt.  In  1858  Mr. 
Russell  became  chief  engineer  of  the  Western  Railroad 
(now  the  Boston  &  Albany).  He  has  been  engaged  in 
railroading  for  over  fifty  years,  and  for  more  than  thirty 
years  has  been  the  chief  engineer  of  the  Boston  &  Albany 
Railroad.  Of  a  serene  and  temperate  mould,  he  wisely 
enjoys  life  and  business  with  contentment  and  equanimity. 
He  resides  at  West  Springfield,  Mass. 

Albert  H.  Kikkham,  Springfield,  Mass. —  Clerk  in 
Troy.  N.  Y.,  1839-40;  Hartford,  Conn.,  1842-46;  in  busi- 
ness in  Springfield,  Mass.,  1847-54  ;  engaged  at  U.  S. 
Armory  1854-56  ;  in  business  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  1856- 
59;  in  government  employ  at  U.  S.  Armory,  Hartford, 
Conn.,    New  York  city,  from    1859  to    1868.      Engaged  on 


ALBERT    H.    KIRKHAM. 


"old  high  school."  69 

U.  S  Census  Rureau,  1880;  city  assessor  from  April,  1881, 
to  April,  1889,  and  chairman  of  the  board  five  years.  Now 
corresponding  secretary  of  the  Connecticut  Valley  Histor- 
ical Society. 

,    Theodore    Schipper,     Springfield,    Mass. — A    wheel- 
wright, learned  the  trade  of  Eleazur  Williams  on  the  "  Hill." 

Benjamin  Loring. — Went  to  California  about  1843, 
followed  the  sea,  was  an  officer  on  a  vessel  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean trade. 

Frederick  S.  Allen. — Went  to  California  in  1849. 
He  died  at  Union  City,  Cal,  July  24,    1850,  aged  22. 

Charles  V.  R.  Austin,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  a 
bookbinder  in  New  York  four  years,  employed  at  U.  S. 
Armory  seventeen  years.  Since  1870  employed  at  Smith 
&  Wesson's. 

Charles  Blackman,  East  Longmeadow,  Mass. — 
Farmer. 

Denison  Abel,  Southwick,  Mass. — Employed  at  U.  S. 
Armory  until  1850,  now  a  farmer. 

Ethan  C.  Ring. — Employed  at  Hill  &  Winship's  tool 
shop,  Springfield,  Mass.,  until  1838  ;  he  then  went  to  Worth- 
ington,  Mass.  (in  what  is  now  known  as  Ringville),  and 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  joiners'  tools.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  from  Ringville  in  1844-45.  In 
185 1  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  the  town.  In  1861 
he  was  appointed  inspector  of  customs  at  Boston,  where  he 
remained  until  1885.      He  resides  in  Melrose,  Mass. 

John  O.  A.  Sexton,  Springfield,  Mass. — A  member 
of  the  common  council  in  1865,  superintendent  of  streets 
in  1868,  1 87 1,  1872.     Now  employed  at  U.  S.  Armory. 

Henry  P.  Ferre,  Springfield,  Mass. — Machinist,  em- 
ployed at  U.  S.  Armory  and  Smith  &  Wesson's,  with  Ames 
Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicopee,  Mass.,  and  at  Colt's  rifie 
works,  Hartford,  Conn.,  at  various  times. 


70  HISTORY    OF    THE 

S.  Whitmarsh  Moore,  Chicago,  111. — He  died  several 
years  ago  from  injuries  received  in  a  railroad  accident  in 
Illinois. 

George  A.  Jones,  Hartford,  Conn. — He  died  Nov. 
28,   1 88 1,  aged  56. 

Silas  D.  Clark. — Learned  his  trade  of  Charles  G.  Rice, 
Springfield,  Mass.  He  was  employed  for  four  years  in  the 
locomotive  works  of  Hinckley  &  Drury,  Boston,  Mass. 
He  was  for  two  years  at  the  Portland  locomotive  works, 
Portland,  Me.,  and  for  two  and  a  half  years  was  superintend- 
ent of  the  shops  of  the  Cleveland  &  Toledo  Railroad. 
He  was  for  six  years  (until  August,  1861,)  the  first  master 
mechanic  of  the  Des  Moines  Valley  Railroad  shops  in 
Keokuk.  During  the  late  war  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
U.  S.  Government.  In  1866  he  accepted  a  position  as 
superintendent  of  the  Kansas  River  Iron  Works  in  Kansas 
City,  Mo.,  where  he  remained  until  1872,  when  he  went  to 
Ottawa,  Kan.,  where  he  built  a  foundry  and  machine  shop. 
He  has  been  engaged  in  business  until  recently,  when  he 
retired  from  active  work.  His  son  is  superintendent  of  the 
pattern  making  department  of  an  extensive  foundry  in 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Arthur  Hatch. — Went  to  sea,  landed  some  years 
after  in  California,  where  he  now  resides.  Has  been 
employed  on  a  railroad. 

John  Mills,  Chicago,  111. — Was  a  civil  engineer.  He 
died  March,  1887,  aged  63. 

William  L.  Wilcox,  Springfield,  Mass. — In  1846  he 
succeeded  his  father,  Philip  Wilcox  (died  Nov.  19,  1842, 
aged  42),  in  the  stove  and  tin  ware  business,  in  connection 
with  his  brother;  successfully  conducted  it  from  i860  until 

1886.  Now  engaged  with  his  brother,  John  P.,  in  the 
manufacture  of  cement  drain  pipe.  A  member  of  the 
common    council    in    i860  and    1861,    from   Ward    Three. 

Trustee  of  the  Taylor  Benevolent  Fund. 


V  WILLIAM    L.    WILCOX. 


"old  high  school.  71 

William  C.  Child,  Palmer,  Mass. — Was  station  agent 
Boston  &  Albany  Railroad.     He  died  Feb.  8,  1861. 

Randolph  Stebbins,  Longmeadow,  Mass. — Was  a 
farmer.  County  commissioner  from  1869  to  1 871.'  He  died 
•April  8,  1870,  aged  50. 

James  K.  Child,  Palmer,  Mass. — Was  station  agent 
Boston  &  Albany  Railroad.  He  died  Aug.  22,  1873, 
aged  56. 

George  S.  Clark,  Easthampton,  Mass. — Was  a  book- 
keeper. He  died  by  his  own  act,  Dec.  26,  1874,  in  his 
53d  year. 

Joseph  Sexton,  Hazardville,  Conn. — A  merchant.  He 
died  Feb.  i,  1866,  aged  44. 

Joseph  C.  Clark,  Northampton,  Mass. — A  merchant. 
He  died  June  25,  1882,  aged  68. 

Justin  Jones,  Sandy  Creek,  N.  Y. — A  tinsmith. 

John  C.  Wait. — Went  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1832. 
Entered  the  office  of  the  Merchants'  Line  on  the  Erie 
Canal.  In  1837  he  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.;  continued 
in  the  same  line  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Roch- 
ester, N.  Y.,  March  31,  1850,  aged  31. 

George  B.  Russell,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  a  harness 
maker.     He  died  Sept.  26,  1888,  aged  64. 

Henry  C.  Goodrich,  Lafayette,  Ind. — Clerk.  He  was 
accidentally  killed  Oct.  3,  1853,  aged  26. 

William  H.  Foster,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  May  29, 
1862,  aged  34. 

James  Bates,  Springfield,  Mass. 

William  A.  Kimberly,  Springfield,  Mass. — Merchant. 
He  died  Aug.  28,  1864,  aged  38. 

Lucien  Pierce,  Springfield,  Mass. — Grocer.  He  died 
March  5,  1880,  aged  60. 


72  HISTORY    OF    THE 

August  Lepard,  New  York  City. — Carpenter  and 
builder.     He  died  in  1876,  aged  about  58. 

Amos  Russell,  Springfield,  Mass. — In  1842  he  went 
to  learn  carriage  making  of  the  late  David  Smith.  From 
1844  to  1847  was  employed  at  the  U.  S.  Armory,  and  at 
the  Sharps  rifle  factory,  Hartford,  Conn.,  four  years;  at 
Colt's  pistol  works,  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  Providence  Rail- 
road shop,  Providence,  R.  I.,  several  years. 

Joseph  B.  Lombard,  Potsdam,  N.  Y. — Mason  and 
builder.  Was  in  business  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  two  years. 
He  died  at  Potsdam,  N.  Y.,  July  7,  1863,  aged  41. 

R.  S.  Parker. — Was  station  agent  at  Springfield,  Mass., 
for  the  Hartford  &  New  Haven  Railroad  Company.  In  1 860 
he  removed  to  Chicago,  111.     Now  a  commission  merchant, 

Dwight  E.  Bates. — Went  South,  was  a  civil  engineer 
in  Louisiana,  and  later  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  in  Illinois, 
Alabama,  and  Florida.  During  the  Rebellion  he  entered 
the  Confederate  Army  as  an  engineer,  and  became  an 
artillerist  and  first  lieutenant  in  the  army  of  Virginia.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1836,  at  Wesleyan  University, 
Middletown,  Conn. 

George  S.  Kendall,  Springfield,  Mass. — He  died  Dec. 
29,  1845,  aged  17. 

Eleazer  J.  Rlng. —  Attended  Wesleyan  Academy,  and 
in  1845  Williston  Academy.  Taught  school  at  East  Long- 
meadow,  Easthampton,  and  Hyannis,  Mass.  In  1847  he 
went  to  Toronto,  Ont.,  where,  and  in  Hamilton,  London, 
and  on  the  Grand  river  in  Ontario,  he  resided  ten  years, 
engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business,  the  stove  business, 
and  the  lumber  business.  In  1857  he  removed  to  Huron, 
Ohio,  where,  and  in  Sandusky  in  the  same  state,  he 
remained  until  1862,  still  engaged  in  the  lumber  business. 
In  1862  he  removed  to  Saginaw,  Mich.,  where  his  large 
lumber  interests  could  be  better  attended  to,  and  where  he 
now  resides. 


ELEAZER   J.    KING. 


"old  high  school.  73 

RoswELL  Lombard,  Springfield,  iVIass. — Clerk  with 
H.  &  J.  Brewer.  He  was  of  the  firm  of  Lombard  &  Cundall, 
druggists.      He  went  from  this  city  many  years  ago. 

Samuel  F.  Otis,  Springfield,  Mass. — Machinist,  em- 
ployed by  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad  Co. 

*  RoswELL  L.  Chapin. — A  graduate  at  Amherst  College 
in  1842  ;  a  teacher  at  Savannah,  Ga.  He  died  June  16, 
1846,  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  aged  25. 

Joseph  Brown,  Springfield,  Mass. — Merchant  tailor. 
He  died  in  May,  1848,  aged  42. 

John  Bangs,  Springfield,  Mass.  —  Manufacturer  and 
dealer  in  flour  and  grain.      He  died  July  10,  1880,  aged  64. 

Allen  Bangs,  Springfield,  Mass. — A  graduate  at  Yale 
College  in  1842.    A  lawyer.     He  died  Nov.  24,  1853,  aged  34. 

L.  V.  H.  Crosby. — Musician.  He  died  suddenly  in 
1886  while  on  a  railroad  train  in  Georgia. 

George  R.  Bunker. — Followed  the  sea.  A  mariner 
on  one  of  the  Glasgow  packets  until  1849.  An  officer  on 
board  a  ship  which  sailed  from  Bath,  Maine,  for  California. 

Charles  Childs,  Omaha,  Neb. — Was  a  carriage  maker 
in  Springfield,  Mass.,  for  many  years. 

Edward  S.  Osgood,  North  Cambridge,  Mass.—  Grad- 
uate at  Amherst  College,  class  of  1844.  Engaged  in 
business  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  and  Jamaica  Plain,  Mass. 
Resided  in  Germany  four  years. 

Samuel  P.  Lee,  Chatham,  N.  Y. —  Station  agent,  Bos- 
ton &  Albany  Railroad.    He  died  in  F"ebruary,  1854,  aged  ^6. 

David  K.  Lee,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  clerk  for 
Elisha  Edwards,  in  1840,  also  for  Bliss,  Chapin  &  Co., 
grocers  and  druggists,  in  1842.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  James  W.  Hale  &  Co.,  from  1859  to  1865,  afterwards 
of  the  firm  of  Pynchon  &  Lee,  grocers.  He  died  Oct.  2, 
1868,  aged  45. 


74  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Charles  W.  Rice,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  a  builder, 
and  dealer  in  real  estate.  Firm  of  Rice  &  Clark,  1864-68, 
and  Rice  &  Fuller,  1869-74.  Was  also  in  the  insurance 
business  in  i860.     He  died  Nov.  27,  1881,  aged  63. 

William  Pvnchon,  Springfield,  Mass. — A  successful 
farmer,  member  of  the  common  council  in  1853-58  from 
Ward   One,  alderman  in  1866. 

Luther  Grant,  Dansville,  N.  Y. — Was  cashier  of  a 
bank. 

Joseph  B.   Russell,  Clinton,  N.  Y. — A  clergyman. 

Reuben  Wood,  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 

Benjamin  A.  Russell,  Hartford,  Conn. —  Physician. 

Daniel  Pomeroy. — Went  to  Michigan,  where  he  died 
more  than  forty  years  ago. 

Charles  Collier. — Was  a  master  mason. 

Henry  B.   Rice,  Springfield,  Mass. — A  carpenter. 

Monroe  Bates,  Westfield,  Mass. — Was  employed  by 
Boston  &  Albany  Railroad  Co. 

George  Torey. — Born  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  Nov.  17, 
1820.  Son  of  Elisha  Tobey,  who  settled  in  Springfield 
about  the  year  1800,  and  grandson  of  Capt.  Prince  Tobey 
of  New  Bedford,  Mass.  He  was  a  pupil  under  the  teach- 
ings of  the  late  Simeon  H.  Calhoun  and  S.  B.  Morley.  In 
1836  he  commenced  an  apprenticeship  in  the  newspaper 
office  of  the  Hampden  l\yng,  afterwards  the  J\>sf,  then 
under  the  management  of  the  late  E.  D.  Beach,  Esq. 
During  the  "  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  campaign  of  1840, 
he  was  in  the  service  of  the  Springfield  Gazette,  the  late 
William  Stowe  being  the  editor  and  publisher.  In  1843  he 
entered  the  service  of  the  Government  at  the  U.  S. 
Armory,  under  the  late  Major  James  W.  Ripley,  remaining 
about  tvventy-si.x  years.  The  desire  for  an  outdoor  life 
induced  him  in  1877  to  engagein  farming,  when  he  removed 
to  Blandford,  Mass.,  where  he  now  resides. 


GEORGE   TOBEY. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL."  75 

George  Schipper. — Followed  the  sea. 

Edmund  Allen,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  a  book- 
keeper for  Almy,  Patterson  &  Co.,  Boston,  Mass.,  for 
many  years. 

Samuel  S.  Allen,  Springfield,  Mass. — He  died  May 
24,  1847,  aged  21. 

William  S.  Allis,  Springfield,  Mass. — -Employed  at 
U.  S.  Armory.    A  farmer.     He  died  April  25,  i87i,aged57. 

Justin  B.  Benton,  Springfield,  Mass. — In  the  employ 
of  the  city. 

Philo  H.  Cook,  Springfield,  Mass. — He  succeeded  his 
father,  Dennis  Cook,  in  the  tin  and  stove  business  on  the 
"  Hill."     He  died  Feb.  16,  1866,  aged  43. 

George  A.  Cooley,  Springfield,  Mass. — A  successful 
farmer. 

George  P.  Cate,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  employed 
by  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad  Co. 

Rodolphus  T.  Attleton,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died 
Sept.  8,  1837,  aged  21. 

Walter  Bates,  Springfield,  Mass. — Employed  at  U.  S. 
water  shops. 

Robert  E.  Bannon,  Springfield,  Mass. — Merchant 
tailor. 

Haskell  C.  Goodman,  Springfield,  Mass. — Joiner, died 
July,  1845,  aged  28. 

Alvin  a.  Hubp.ard,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  Oct.  26, 
1839,  a-ged  17. 

Joseph  Marsh,  Springfield,  Mass. — Employed  by  Kibbe 
Bros.  &  Co.,  until  1868.  Superintendent  of  Springfield 
Cemetery  one  year.      He   died    Nov.   24,    1869,  aged  47. 

J.  Spencer  Murphy,  Springfield,  Mass. — Employed 
byT.  M.  Walker  &  Co. 


•J^  HISTORY    OF    THE 

George  Smith,  Springfield,  Mass. — Carpenter. 

Edward  C.  Stebrixs,  Springfield,  Mass. — Druggist 
from  1848  to   1884. 

Edwin  Taylor,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  Jan.  21,  1840, 
aged  24. 

Noah  P.  Walker,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  Sept.  4, 
1846,  aged  28. 

Henry  F.  Starkly,  Springfield,  Mass. — Clerk.  He 
died  Feb.  4,  1845,  ^g^tl  23. 

Giles  Pease,  Springfield,  Mass. — A  farmer. 

Erasisius  D.  Perry,  Hartford,  Conn. — Clerk.  Died 
March  i,  1874,  aged  60. 

Roderick  Stebbins,  Friendship,  Alleghany  county, 
N.  Y. 

Richard  Burt,  Agawam,  Mass. — Farmer.  Died 
Oct.  15,  1872,  aged  47. 

Jackson  Stebbins,  Dubuc|ue,  Iowa. —  Died  in  1885,  aged 
about  70. 

Edmu.vd  Bate.s. — Was  in  North  Carolina  previous  to 
the  Rebellion,  and  entered  the  Confederate  service  as  an 
engineer  on  a  blockade  runner. 

Lyman  Flrre,  Bloomington,  111. 

William  C.  Rice. — Went  to  Texas  in  1837. 

James  T.  SiiErARO. — Was  clerk  in  a  jewelry  store  and 
for  several  years  was  cmployetl  at  United  States  Armory, 
He  became  interested  in  watch  making  and  went  to  Roxbury, 
Mass.,  in  the  employ  of  the  old  Boston  Watch  Company. 
The  business  was  removed  to  Waltham,  Mass.,  and  is  now 
the  American  Watch  Company  ;  he  has  been  foreman  of  one 
of  the  departments  for  the  last  thirty-five  years.  The  daily 
product  of  this  comjiany  is  1600  watches  per  day,  and  2800 
men  and  women  arc  employed. 


W         JAMES    T.    SHEPARD. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL.  yj 

George  Lvman. — Died  or  was  lost  at  sea  many  years 
ago. 

Samuel  Lyman. — Went  west,  was  in  the  employ  of  a 
railroad  company. 

Orrin  L.  Taylor. — Died  at  Fairmount,  Grant  Parish, 
La.,  Feb.  14,  1881,  in  his  57th  year. 

Thomas  W.   Bliss,  Charleston,  S.  C. — Merchant. 

Hamblin  Blake,  New  York  City. — Broker. 

Thomas  Bond,  New  York  City. 

J.  Bryant  Hatch,  West  Medford,  Mass. — A  merchant. 

John  Ranney,  St.  Catharine's,  Canada — A  merchant. 

Loren  Wood. — Was  of  the  class  of  1840,  Wesleyan 
University.  A  lawyer.  Practiced  for  several  years  in 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  from  1845-50,  and  1861-66  in  New 
York  city,  where  he  died  about  the  year  1866. 

Franklin  Roberts. — Went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Charles  Thayer,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  Nov.  8, 
1843,  aged  21. 

William  Heath. — Died  in  Russell,  Mass. 

Alfred   Heath. — Died  in  Russell,  Mass. 

Emerson  Heath. — Died  in  Russell,  Mass. 

William  Searle. — Went  west. 

Silas  Searle. — Went  to  Washington,  D.  C. 

John  M.   Hendrick. 

Daniel  Sizer. — Went  to  California  in  1849. 

Samuel  Sizer. — Went  to  California  in  1849. 

Samuel   Warner. 

James  Sikes. — Went  to  California  in  1849. 

George  Pratt. 

William  D.   Warriner. 


78  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Charles  S.   Hall,  Springfield,  Mass. — Master  mason. 

Henry  S.   Chapin,  New  York  City. 

Charles  Chapin,  Auburn,  N.  Y. — Was  a  carriage 
maker. 

Edward  Trask,  San  Francisco,  Cal. — He  was  surgeon 
on  one  of  the  Pacific  mail  steamers. 

William  H.  Harding,  Wichita,  Kansas. — A  railroad 
manager. 

Walter  Ruckland. — Went  to  California. 

David  Rice. — Went  to  Galveston,  Texas. 

Benjamin  Bangs,  Fenton,  Mich. 

George  Lloyd,  Boston,  Mass. — Printer. 

CoRBiN  O.  Wood,  Worcester,  Mass. — Mechanic. 

William  Hubbard,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  conductor 
on  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad.  He  died  June  9,  1868, 
aged  47. 

Morgan  Appleton,  Springfield,  Mass. — In  1846  was 
in  the  employ  of  Homer  Foot  &  Co.  He  died  April  8, 
1850,  aged  34. 

Franklin  Richmond,  Springfield,  Mass. — P'irm  of  F. 
&  J.  M.  Richmond,  livery  business.  He  died  July  3,  1882, 
aged  62. 

Asaph  K.  Childs. — Went  to  Milledgeville,  Ga.,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1836,  and  was  twelve  days  in  making  the  journey, 
which  can  be  made  now  in  thirty-three  hours.  Was  clerk 
in  his  brother's  store  until  1842.  In  1846  he  removed  to 
Athens,  Ga.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  suffered 
much  in  the  loss  of  property.  In  1876  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  North-Eastcrn  Railroad  of  Georgia.  Resign- 
ing his  position  in  1881,  he  was  elected  president  of  the 
National  Bank  of  Athens,  which  office  he  now  holds. 


ASAPH    K.    CHILDS. 


"  OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL. 


79 


Samuel  B.  Hubisard,  Springfield,  Mass. — Employed 
at  U.  S.  Armory  from  1837  to  1868,  afterwards  by  Boston 
&  Albany  Railroad  Company.  He  died  Aug.  25,  1886,  in 
his  72d  year. 

Henry  Bliss,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Oliver  Sexton,  Lafayette,  Ind. — Employed  Toledo  & 
Wabash  Railroad  Co. 

Eleazer  S.  Beebe,  East  Longmeadow,  Mass. — 
Physician. 

John  S.   Miller,  Boston,  Mass. — Machinist. 
Lyman  Sikes. 
Halsey  Fuller. 
Luther  Chapin. 
Esek  Saunders. 

"  A  rivcderci.^' 


The  following  list  gives  the  various  occupations  of  the 
scholars  after  leaving  the  school. 

Army  officers, 

Armorers, 

Artist, 

Bank  cashiers, 

Bank  presidents. 

Book-keepers, 

Carpenters, 

Canal  forwarder, 

Chemist, 

Civil  engineers, 

Clergymen, 

Clerks,   - 

Coal  dealers, 

Druggists, 

Economist, 

Farmers, 

Grain  dealers, 

ttotel  proprietor. 

Insurance, 

Journalists, 


3 

Lawyers, 

7 

6 

Librarians, 

2 

I 

Livery, 

2 

2 

Machinists, 

7 

2 

Manufacturers, 

10 

3 

IVIariners, 

7 

8 

Masons, 

3 

I 

Mechanics, 

14 

I 

Merchants, 

25 

3 

Merchant  tailors. 

5 

7 

Miller, 

I 

15 

Missionaries, 

2 

2 

Musician, 

I 

6 

Physicians, 

7 

I 

Printers, 

5 

9 

Railroad  contractor, 

I 

2 

Railroad  engineers. 

2 

I 

Railroad  service. 

16 

3 

•Sea  captains. 

4 

2 

Tinners, 

3 

8o 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Residence  and  place  of  death — twenty-seven  states 
of  the  union,  two  foreign  countries,  and  the  District  of 
Columbia:  — 


Living  in  Springfield, 

44 

Died  in  Springfield, 

48 

Living  in  other  towns  in  Massa- 

chusetts, 

14 

Died  in  other  towns  in  Massa- 

chusetts, 

10 

I>iving  in  Boston, 

3 

Died  in  Boston, 

Died  in  Arkansas, 

I 

Died  in  Alabama, 

I 

Died  in  Connecticut, 

10 

Living  in  Connecticut, 

7 

Living  in  Colorado, 

I 

Living  in  California, 

4 

Died  in  California, 

5 

Living  in  Canada, 

I 

Living  in  Georgia, 

I 

Living  in  Illinois, 

3 

Died  in  Illinois, 

5 

Died  in   Indiana, 

I 

Living  in  Indiana, 

2 

1  )ied  in  Iowa, 

I 

Living  in  Kansas, 

3 

Died  in   Kentuck\', 

I 

Died  in  Louisiana, 

I 

Living  in  Louisiana, 

I 

Living  in  Michigan, 

2 

Died  in  Micliigan, 
Died  in  Missouri, 
Died  in  Minnesota, 
Died  in  New  York  City, 
Living  in  New  York  City, 
Living   in   other  towns    in  New 

York  State, 
Died    in     other    towns    in    New 

York  State, 
Living  in  New  Jersey,' 
Died  in  New  Jersey, 
Died  in  New  Hampshire, 
Living  in  Nebraska, 
Living  in  Ohio, 
Died  in  Ohio, 
Died  in  Pennsylvania, 
Living  in  Pennsylvania, 
Living  in  South  Carolina, 
Died  in  South  Carolina, 
Living  in  Texas, 
Living  in  Turkey,  Asia  Minor, 
Died  in  Turkey,  Asia  Minor, 
Died  in  Virginia, 
Died  in  Vermont, 
Died  in  Wisconsin, 
Living  in  Washington,  I).  C, 
Died  or  lost  at  sea. 


10 
I 


The  ages  of  1 10  who  have  died  are  as  recorded  : — 


One, 

One, , 

One 

Four, 

Five, 

Two, 

One, 

Tiiree, 

Two, 

Four, 

Three, 

Two, 

Three, 


77  years. 

Three, 

74       " 

Two, 

73      " 

Two, 

71 

Four, 

70      " 

Four, 

6S      •' 

Five, 

67       " 

Three, 

66      " 

One, 

65      " 

One. 

64       " 

One, 

63      " 

Three, 

62       " 

Four, 

61       "      . 

One, 

60 

59 
5'S 
57 
56 
54 
53 
5- 
5' 
50 
49 
47 
46 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL." 


Three, 

Two, 

Three, 

Five, 

One, 

One, 

Three, 

One, 

One, 

Four, 

Two, 


45  years. 

Two, 

44       " 

Two, 

43       " 

One, 

42       " 

Three, 

41 

One, 

40       " 

Two, 

3S       " 

One, 

36       " 

Two, 

35      " 

One, 

34       " 

Two, 

33      " 

31   years. 

28  '  " 

26  " 

25  " 

24  " 

23  " 

22  " 

21  " 

18  " 

17  " 


In  the  second  story  of  the  building  there  was  a  school 
for  girls  taught  by  Miss  Mary  and  Miss  Nancy  Holland,  of 
Westfield,  Mass.,  sisters  of  the  late  Dr.  James  Holland. 
Miss  Mary  Holland  died  Feb.  8,  1836,  aged  31.  Miss  Nancy 
Holland  died  Dec.  12,  1836,  aged  29.  Miss  Susan  Whitney, 
sister  of  the  late  Gen.  James  S.  Whitney  (the  father  of  ex- 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  William  C.  Whitney),  was  a  teacher. 
Miss  Margaret  Bliss,  who  has  been  an  honored  and  success- 
ful teacher  for  many  years  in  our  public  schools  and  still 
resides  in  the  city,  taught  one  term. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  Oct.  7,  1841,  the  town  voted  that 
John  Howard,  William  Child,  and  Francis  M.  Carevv,  be  a 
committee  "  to  sell  and  convey  the  High  School  House  and 
the  land  on  which  it  stands — and  whereas  the  lot  of  land 
on  which  said  High  School  House  stands  was  given  by 
Simon  Sanborn  to  the  town  for  the  sole  purpose  of  main- 
taining a  high  school  at  said  place,  therefore, — voted,  that 
out  of  the  proceeds  of  said  sale  there  be  paid  to  Simon 
Sanborn  such  a  sum  as  in  the  opinion  of  said  committee  he 
is  entitled  to  receive,  and  the  residue  be  applied  on  the  town 
debt  or  held  for  that  purpose." 

On  the  4th  of  April,  1842,  the  committee  appointed  to 
sell  the  High  School  house  and  land  report : — 


Amount  received  on  sale  to  Phiio  F.  Wilcox, 
Paid  Simon  Sanborn  for  land, 

"     expenses  of  sale  and  auctioneer's  commissions, 


balance  to  Town  Treasurer, 


$275  00 
II  87 
286  87 


$888  63 


82  HISTORV    OF    THE 

In  May,  1842,  Mr.  Wilcox  sold  the  j^roperty  to  Joel 
Chapin  for  $2,000.  In  May,  1844,  Mr.  Chapin  sold  it  to 
E.  &  S.  Woodvvorth  for  $3,000.  On  the  death  of  the  Messrs. 
Woodworth  Miss  Mary  A.  Amidon  became  the  heir  and 
owner.  In  April,  1866,  Lyman  King  bought  the  property 
for  $7,000  and  on  the  same  date  sold  one-half  of  it  to  the 
present  owner,  Joel  S.  Marsh,  for  $5,000. 


DECLAMATIONS. 


Saturday  was  the  day  for  the  scholars  to  speak  their 
pieces,  which  was  done  from  the  platform  on  the  north 
side  of  the  room.  The  following  pieces  are  mainly  from 
the  "National  Reader,"  published  in  Boston,  1829. 

One  of  the  boys,  who  was  a  merchant  in  New  York  city, 
spoke  from  an  oration  of  Catiline  before  the  Roman  senate. 

My  voice  is  still  for  war ;  for,  gods,  can  a  Roman  senate  long  debate  which 
of  the  two  to  choose — slavery  or  death  ?  No  ;  let  us  rise  at  once,  gird  on 
our  swords,  break  through  their  thick  array,  and  charge  home  upon  them. 
Perhaps  some  arm  more  lucky  than  the  rest  may  reach  his  heart  and  free  the 
world  from  bondage. 

The  boy  who  recited  this  piece  was  impressed  with 
"funeral  dirges." 

];URIAL  OF  -SIR    jolIX    .MOOKK. 

Not  a  drum  was  heard,  not  a  funeral  note. 
As  his  corse  to  the  rampart  we  hurried  ; 

Not  a  soldier  discharged  his  farewell  shot 
O'er  the  grave  where  our  hero  we  buried. 

Wc  buried  iiim  darkly,  at  dead  of  night. 

The  sods  with  our  bayonets  turning; 
l!y  the  struggling  moonbeams'  misty  light. 

And  the  lantern  dimly  burning. 

No  useless  coftin  enclosed  his  breast. 

Nor  in  sheet  nor  in  shroud  we  wound  him  ; 

But  he  lay  like  a  warrior  taking  his  rest. 

With  his  martial  cloak  around  him. — C.  Wo/fc. 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL."  83 

BRUTUS  OX  THE  DEATH  OE   CESAR. 

Romans,  couiitrvmen,  and  lovers  !  hear  me  for  my  cause,  and  be  silent 
that  you  may  hear.  Believe  nie  for  mine  honor,  and  have  respect  to  mine 
honor,  that  you  may  believe.  Censure  me  in  your  wisdom,  and  awake  your 
senses,  that  you  may  the  better  judge.  If  there  be  any  in  this  assembly, — any 
dear  friend  of  Caesar's, — to  him  I  say,  that  Brutus'  love  to  Cresar  'was  no  less 
than  his.  If  that  friend  demand  why  Brutus  rose  against  Caesar,  this  is  my 
answer:  Not  that  I  loved  Caesar  less,  but  that  I  loved  Rome  more. 

— Sliakspcare. 

This  was  a  favorite  piece  spoken  by  many,  on  account 
of  its  military  ardor. 

IIOIIENLINDEN. 

On  Linden,  when  the  sun  was  low, 
All  bloodless  lay  the  untrodden  snow  ; 
And  dark  as  winter  was  the  flow — 
Of  Iser  rolling  rapidly. 

But  Linden  saw  another  sight. 
When  the  drums  beat  at  dead  of  night, 
Commanding  fires  of  death  to  light 
The  darkness  of  her  scenery. 

By  torch  and  trumpet  fast  arrayed. 
Each  horseman  drew  his  battle  blade. 
And  furious  every  charger  neighed 
To  join  the  dreadful  revelry. 

Then  shook  the  hills  with  thunder  riven. 
Then  rushed  the  steed  to  battle  driven  ; 
And  louder  than  the  bolts  of  Heaven 
Far  flashed  the  red  artillery. 

But  redder  yet  that  light  shall  glow 
On  Linden's  hills  of  stained  snow ; 
And  bloodier  yet  the  torrent  flow, 
Of  Iser,  rolling  rapidly. 

'Tis  morn  ;  but  scarce  yon  level  sun 
Can  pierce  the  war-clouds,  rolling  dun 
Where  furious  Frank  and  fiery  Hun 
Shout  in  their  sulphurous  canopy. 

The  combat  deepens.     On,  ye  brave. 

Who  rush  to  glory  or  the  grave  ! 

Wave,  Munich,  all  thy  banners  wave, 

And  charge  with  all   thy  chivalry! — T.  Caiiiphcll. 


84  HISTORY    OF    THE 

One  of  the  scholars,  now  a  prominent  lawyer,  spoke 
his  piece,  an  extract  from  the  speech  of  Daniel  Webster 
at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  Bunker  Hill  Monu- 
ment at  Charlestown,  Mass.,  on  the  17th  of  June,  1825. 

Venerable  men  !  you  have  come  down  to  us  from  a  former  generation. 
Heaven  has  bounteousl)-  lengthened  out  your  lives  that  you  might  behold 
this  joyous  day.  You  are  now  where  you  stood  fifty  years  ago,  this  very 
hour,  with  your  brothers  and  your  neighbors,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  in  the 
strife  for  your  country.  Behold,  how  altered !  The  same  heavens  are 
indeed  over  your  heads,  the  same  ocean  rolls  at  your  feet ;  but  all  else,  how 
changed  !  You  hear  now  no  roar  of  hostile  cannon,  you  see  no  mixed  volumes 
of  smoke  and  flame  rising  from  burning  Charlestown,  the  ground  strowed 
with  the  dead  and  the  dying,  the  impetuous  charge,  the  steady  and  successful 
repulse,  the  loud  call  to  repeated  assault,  the  summoning  of  all  that  is  manly 
to  repeated  resistance,  a  thousand  bosoms  freely  and  fearlessly  bared  in  an 
instant  to  whatever  of  terror  there  may  be  in  war  and  death, — all  these  you 
have  witnessed  but  you  witness  them  no  more.     All  is  peace. 

This  was  delivered  by  one  who  admired  heroism. 

CASABIANCA. 

The  boy  stood  on  the  burning  deck 

Whence  all  but  him  had  fled  ; 
The  flame  that  lit  the  battle's  wreck 

Shone  round  him  o'er  the  dead. 

The  flames  rolled  on,  he  would  not  go 

Without  his  father's  word ; 
That  father,  faint  in  death  below, 

His  voice  no  longer  heard. 

He  called  aloud  :  "  Say,  father,  say 

If  yet  my  task  is  done  !  " 
He  knew  not  that  the  chieftain  lay 

Unconscious  of  his  son. 

"  Speak,  father  I"  once  again  he  cried, 

"  If  I  may  yet  be  gone  !" 
And  but  the  booming  shots  replied, — 

And  fast  the  flames  rolled  on. 

I'pon  his  brow  he  felt  their  breath. 

And  in  his  waving  hair, 
And  looked  from  that  lone  post  of  death, 

In  still  yet  brave  despair. 


"old  high  school."  85 

And  shouted  but  once  more  aloud, 

"  My  father  !  must  I  stay  ?  " 
While  o'er  him  fast,  through  sail  and  shroud, 

The  wreathing  fires  made  way. — Mrs.  Hevians. 

This  piece  wa.s  spoken   by  several  patriotic  youths  at 
various  times. 

WARREN'S  ADDRESS  AT    BUNKER  HILL. 

Stand !  the  ground's  your  own,  my  braves  ! 
Will  ye  give  it  up  to  slaves  ? 
Will  ye  look  for  greener  graves? 

Hope  ye  mercy  still  ? 
What's  the  mercy  despots  feel  ? 
Hear  it  in  that  battle  peal  ! 
Read  it  on  yon  bristling  steel ! 

Ask  it — ye  who  will. 

Fear  ye  foes  who  kill  for  hire  ? 
Will  ye  to  your  homes  retire  ? 
Look  behind  you  !  they're  afire  ! 

And,  before  you,  see 
Who  have  done  it  !— From  the  vale 
On  thev  come  ! — and  will  ye  quail  ? 
Leaden  rain  and  iron  hail 

Let  their  welcome  be  ! 

In  the  God  of  battles  trust! 

Die  we  may, — and  die  we  must ; — 

But,  O  !  where  can  dust  to  dust 

Be  consigned  so  well 
As  where  Heaven  its  dews  shall  shed 
On  the  martyred  patriot's  bed. 
And  the  rocks  shall  raise  their  head, 

Of  his  deeds  to  tell !— /.  Pierpont. 

This  was  spoken  by  a  boy  of  modest  mien  and  bearing. 
SKVEN  A(;ES;  or  the  PROGRESS  OF  HUMAN  LIFi;. 
All  the  world's  a  stage. 
And  all  the  men  and  women  merely  players  : 
They  have  their  exits,  and  their  entrances; 
And  one  man  in  his  time  plays  many  parts, 
His  acts  being  seven  ages  !  at  first,  the  infant. 
Mewling  and  puking  in  the  nurse's  arms  ; 
And  then  the  whining  school-boy,  with  his  satchel 
And  shining  morning  face,  creeping  like  snail 
Unwillingly  to  school.     And  then  the  lover, 

9 


86  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Sighing  like  furnace,  with  a  woeful  ballad 

Made  to  his  mistress'  eyebrow;  then  a  soldier, 

Full  of  strange  oaths,  and  bearded  like  the  pard, 

Jealous  in  honor,  sudden  and  cjuick  in  cjuarrel, 

Seeking  the  bubble  reputation 

Even  in  the  cannon's  mouth.     And  then,  the  justice, 

In  fair  round  belly,  with  good  capon  lin'd, 

With  eyes  severe,  and  beard  of  formal  cut, 

Full  of  wise  saws  and  modern  instances  ; 

And  so  he  plays  his  part.     The  sixth  age  shifts 

Into  the  lean  and  slipper'd  pantaloon, 

With  spectacles  on  nose,  and  pouch  on  side, 

His  youthful  hose,  well  sav'd,  a  world  too  wide 

P'or  his  shrunk  shank  ;  and  his  big  manly  voice, 

Turning  again  toward  childish  treble,  pipes 

And  whistles  in  his  sound.     Last  scene  of  all, 

That  ends  this  strange  eventful  history, 

Is  second  childishness,  and  mere  oblivion  ; 

Sans  teeth,  sans  eyes,  sans  taste,  sans  everything  ! — S/iijks/'eare. 

The    speaker    of  this    piece    had    dreams    of  "foreign 
influence." 

MARCO  BOZZAKIS. 

At  midnight,  in  his  guarded  tent, 

The  Turk  was  dreaming  of  the  hour 
When  Greece,  her  knee  in  suppliance  bent. 

Should  tremble  at  his  power : 
In  dreams,  through  camp  and  court  he  bore 
The  trophies  of  a  conqueror. 

In  dreams  his  song  of  triumph  heard  ; 
Then  wore  his  monarch's  signet  ring, 
Then  pressed  that  monarch's  throne — a  king ; 
As  wild  his  thoughts  and  gay  of  wing 

As  Eden's  garden  bird. — F.  G.  Ilallt'ck. 

The  speaker  of  this  piece  was  not   reconciled   to  hook- 
keeping. 

DEliT  AND  CREDIT. 

I  dislike  the  whole  matter  of  debt  and  credit — from  my  heart  I  dislike  it; 
and  think  the  man  who  first  invented  a  ledger  should  be  hung  in  effigy  with 
his  invention  tied  to  his  feet,  that  his  neck  might  su]iport  him  and  his  works 
together.  My  reason  for  thus  swec])ing  at  the  whole  system  is  not  that  I 
believe  it  totally  useless,  but  that  I  believe  it  does  more  mischief  than  good, 
]iroduces  more  trouble  than  accommodation,  and  destroys  niore  fortunes  than 
it  creates  honestly.     These  ()])inioiis  arc  not  of  a  recent  date  witli  mc  ;  thev 


"OLD    HIGH    SCHOOL."  8/ 

are  those  upon  which  I  set  out  in  early  life,  and,  as  I  grew  older,  I  became 
more  and  more  confirmed  in  them  ;  not  that  I  changed  my  practice,  while  I 
held  fast  my  profession,  and  got  my  fingers  burned  at  last,  by  trusting  my 
name  in  a  day-book  ;  for  I  never  did  it,  because  I  saw  the  evil  effects  of  credit 
around  me,  in  every  shape  and  form. — Emporium,  Trciitoit. 

The  speaker  of  the  following  is  now  an  esteemed  citi- 
zen of  California. 

THE  INFANT  ORATOR. 

You'd  scarce  expect  one  of  my  age 

To  speak  in  public  on  the  stage; 

And  if  I  chance  to  fall  below 

Demosthenes  or  Cicero, 

Don't  view  me  with  a  critic's  eye. 

But  pass  my  imperfections  by. 

Large  streams  from  little  fountains  flow; 

Tall  oaks  from  little  acorns  grow; 

And  though  I  now  am  small  and  young. 

Of  judgment  weak,  and  feeble  tongue, 

Yet  all  great  learned  men,  like  me. 

Once  learned  to  read  their  A,B,C. 

l^ut  why  may  not  Columbia's  soil 

Rear  men  as  great  as  Britain's  Isle; 

Exceed  what  Greece  and  Rome  have  done, 

Or  any  land  beneath  the  sun  ? 

Mayn't  Massachusetts  boast  as  great 

As  any  other  sister  state  ? 

Or  Where's  the  town,  go  far  and  near, 

That  does  not  find  a  rival  here  ? 

Or,  Where's  the  boy  but  three  feet  high 

Who's  made  improvements  more  than  I  ? 

These  thoughts  inspire  my  youthful  mind 

To  be  the  greatest  of  mankind ; 

Great,  not  like  Ciesar,  stained  with  blood  ; 

But  only  great,  as  I  am  good. — Everett. 

This  was  heard  from  one  of  a  "  poetic  temperament." 

ELEGY  ON  MRS.    MARY  BLAIZK. 
w 

Good  peo])le  all,  with  one  accord, 

Lament  for  Madam  Blaize  ; 
Who  never  wanted  a  good  word, — 

From  those  who  spoke  her  praise. 

The  needy  seldom  passed  her  door. 

And  always  found  her  kind  ; 
She  freely  lent  to  all  the  poor — 

Who  left  a  pledge  behind. 


88  HISTORY    OF    THE 

She  strove  the  neigliboihood  to  jilease 

With  manner  wondrous  winning  ; 
And  never  followed  wicked  ways — 

Unless  when  she  was  sinning. 

At  church  in  silks  and  satins  new, 

With  hoop  of  monstrous  size, 
She  never  slumbered  in  her  pew — 

But  when  she  shut  her  eyes. 

Her  love  was  sought,  I  do  aver, 

By  twenty  beaux,  and  more; 
The  king  himself  has  followed  her — 

When  she  has  walked  before. 

But  now,  her  wealth  and  finery  fled. 

Her  hangers-on  cut  short  all  ; 
Her  doctors  found,  when  she  was  dead — 

Her  last  disorder  mortal. 

Let  us  lament   in  sorrow  sore  ; 

For  Kent  Street  well  may  say 
That,  had  she  lived  a  twelve-month  more — 

She  had  not  died  to-day. — Goldsmith. 

The  boy  that    delivered   this  piece   was  subject   to  cold 

chills,  and  went  South. 

MARCH. 

The  stormy  March  is  come  at  last, 

With  wind,  and  cloud,  and  changing  skies  ; 

I  hear  the  rushing  of  the  blast 
That  through  the  snowy  valley  flies. 

Ah  !  passing  few  are  they  who  speak. 

Wild,  stormy  month,  in  praise  of  thee  ; 
Vet,  though  thy  winds  are  loud  and  bleak. 

Thou  art  a  welcome  month  to  me. 

For  thou  to  northern  lands  again 

The  glad  and  glorious  sun  dost  bring, 
.\nd  thou  hast  joined  the  gentle  train. 

And  wear'st  the  gentle  name  of  spring. 

And  in  tliy  reign  uf  blast  and  stDnu 

Smiles  many  a  long,  bright,  sunny  day, 
When  the  changed  winds  are  soft  and  warm. 

And  heaven  puts  nn  the  blue  of  May. 


"old  high  school."  89 

Then  sing  aloud  the  gushing  rills 

And  the  full  springs,  from  frost  set  free, 
That,  brightly  leaping  down  the  hills, 

Are  just  set  out  to  meet  the  sea. 

The  year's  departing  beauty  hides 

Of  wintry  storms  the  sullen  threat  ; 
But  in  thy  sternest  frown  abides 

A  look  of  kindly  promise  yet. —  Brvant. 


The  youth  who  spoke  the  following  was  an  admirer  of 
the  ancient  Romans. 

ANTONY'S  ADDRESS  TO  THE  ROMANS. 

Friends,  Romans,  countrymen  !  lend  me  your  ears  ; 

I  come  to  bury  CiEsar,  not  to  praise  him. 
The  evil  that  men  do  lives  after  them  ; 

The  good  is  oft  interred  with  their  bones  : 
So  let  it  be  with  Caesar.     The  noble  Brutus 

Hath  told  you  Czesar  was  ambitious  : 
If  it  were  so,  it  was  a  grievous  fault, 

And  grievously  hath  Caesar  answered  it. 
Here,  under  leave  of  Brutus  and  the  rest 

(For  Brutus  is  an  honorable  man. 
So  are  they  all,  all  honorable  men), 

Come  I  to  speak  in  Cxsar's  funeral. — Shakspcurr. 

This  piece  was  spoken  by  one  whose  aspirations  were 
of  a  high  order. 

SUPPOSED    SPEECH    OF    JOHN   ADAMS    IN    FAVOR    OF    THE 
DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 

Sink  or  swim,  live  or  die,  survive  or  ])erish,  I  give  mv  hand  and  my  heart 
to  this  vote.  It  is  true,  indeed,  that  in  the  beginning  we  aimed  not  at  inde- 
pendence. But  there's  a  Divinity  which  shapes  our  ends.  The  injustice  of 
England  has  driven  us  to  arms;  and,  blinded  to  her  own  interest,  for  our 
good,  she  has  obstinately  persisted,  till  independence  is  now  within  our  grasp. 
We  have  but  to  reach  forth  to  it,  and  it  is  ours.  Why  then  should  we  defer 
the  Declaration  !  Is  any  man  so  weak  as  now  to  hope  for  a  reconciliation 
with  England,  which  shall  leave  either  safety  to  the  country  and  its  liberties, 
or  safety  to  his  own  life  and  his  own  honor  ?  Are  not  you,  sir,  who  sit  in 
that  chair, — is  not  he,  our  venerable  colleague,  near  you, — are  you  not  both 
already  the  proscribed  and  predestined  objects  of  punishment  and  vengeance  ? 
Cut  off  from  all  hope  of  royal  clemency,  what  are  you,  what  can  \ on  be,  while 
the  power  of  iMigland  remains,  but  outlaws? — D.  Webster. 


QO  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  youth  who  spoke  this  piece  was  somewhat  timid,  but 
he  "  braced  up  "  before  he  closed  his  piece. 

SPEECH    OF     PATRICK     HENRY     IN    THE    CONVENTION    OF 
DELEGATES  OF  VIRGINIA,  MARCH,  1775. 

Mr.  President, — It  is  natural  for  man  to  indulge  in  the  illusions  of  hope. 
We  are  apt  to  shut  our  eyes  against  a  painful  truth,  and  listen  to  the  song  of 
that  siren  till  she  transforms  us  into  beasts.  Is  this  the  part  of  wise  men 
engaged  in  the  great  and  arduous  struggle  for  liberty  .'  Are  we  disposed  to 
be  of  the  number  of  those,  who,  having  eyes,  see  not,  and  having  ears,  hear 
not,  the  things  which  so  nearly  concern  their  temporal  salvation  .'  For  my 
part,  whatever  anguish  of  spirit  it  may  cost,  I  am  willing  to  know  the  whole 
truth, — to  know  the  worst  and  to  provide  for  it.  I  have  but  one  lamp  by 
which  mv  feet  are  guided ;  and  that  is  the  lamp  of  experience.  I  know  of  no 
way  of  judging  of  the  future  except  by  the  past. 

The  boy  that  delivered  this  piece  was  inclined  to  senti- 
mentalism. 

THE   SICK  MAN  AND  THE    ANGEL. 
"  Is  there  no  hope  ?  "  the  sick  man  said. 
The  silent  doctor  shook  his  head  ; 
And  took  his  leave  with  signs  of  sorrow. 
Despairing  of  his  fee  to-morrow. 
When  thus  the  man,  with  gasping  breath  : 
"  I  feel  the  chilling  hand  of  death. 
Since  I  must  bid  the  world  adieu, 
Let  me  my  former  life  review. 
I  grant  my  bargains  were  well  made  ; 
IJut  all  men  overreach  in  trade. 
'Tis  self-defense  in  each  profession  ; 
Sure  self-defense  is  no  transgression. 

"The  little  portion  in  my  hands, 

By  good  security  on  lands. 

Is  well  increased.     If,  unawares. 

My  justice  to  myself  and  heirs 

Hath  let  my  debtor  rot  in  jail, 

For  want  of  good  sufificient  bail ; 

If  I,  by  writ,  or  bond,  or  deed. 

Reduced  a  family  to  need  ; 

My  will  hath  made  the  world  amcntls  : 

My  hope  on  charity  depends. 

When  I  am  numbered  with  the  dead. 

And  all  my  pious  gifts  are  read, 

liy  heaven  and  earth  !  'twill   then  be  known, 

My  charities  were  amply  shown."  — iiay. 


"old  high  school.  91 

This  speech  was  delivered  by  one  who  had  great  respect 
for  "  Indian  Rights." 

SPEECH  OF  LOGAN,  THE  INDIAN  CHIEF,  1774. 
I  appeal  to  any  wliite  man  to  say  if  ever  he  entered  Logan's  cabin  hungry 
and  he  gave  him  not  meat ;  if  ever  he  came  cold  and  naked  and  he  clothed 
him  not.  During  the  course  of  the  last  long  and  bloody  war,  Logan  remained 
idle  in  his  cabin,  an  advocate  for  peace.  Such  was  my  love  for  the  whites 
that  my  countrymen  pointed  as  they  jiassed,  and  said,  "  Logan  is  the  friend  of 
white  men."  I  had  even  thought  to  have  lived  with  you,  but  for  the  injuries 
of  one  man.  Colonel  Cresap,  who,  last  spring,  in  cold  blood,  and  unprovoked, 
murdered  all  the  relations  of  Logan,  not  even  sparing  my  women  and  children. 
There  runs  not  a  drop  of  my  blood  in  the  veins  of  any  living  creature.  This 
called  on  me  for  revenge.  I  have  sought  it ;  I  have  killed  many  ;  I  have  fully 
glutted  my  vengeance.  For  my  country  I  rejoice  at  the  beams  of  peace ;  but 
do  not  harbor  a  thought  that  mine  is  the  joy  of  fear.  Logan  never  felt  fear. 
He  will  not  turn  on  his  heel  to  save  his  life.  Who  is  there  to  mourn  for 
Logan  ?     Not  one. 

This  piece  was   recited   by  one  who  was  an  admirer  of 
nature's  works. 

PARAPHRASE  OF  THE  NINETEENTH  PSALM. 
The  spacious  firmament  on  high, 
With  all  the  blue  ethereal  sky. 
And  spangled  heavens,  a  shining  frame. 
Their  great  Original   iJroclaim  ; 
The  unwearied  sun,  from  day  to  day, 
Does  his  Creator's  jiower  display. 
And  publishes  to  every  land 
The  work  of  an  Almighty  Hand. 

Soon  as  the  evening  shades  prevail, 
The  moon  takes  up  the  wondrous  tale. 
And  nightly,  to  the  listening  earth. 
Repeats  the  story  of  her  birth  ; 
Whilst  all  the  stars  that  round  her  burn, 
And  all  the  planets,  in  their  turn. 
Confirm  the  tidings,  as  they  roll, 
And  spread  the  truth  from  pole  to  pole. 

What  though  in  solemn  silence  all 

Move  round  this  dark  terrestrial  ball  ! 

What  though  nor  real  voice  nor  sound 

Amid  their  radiant  orbs  be  found  ! 

In  reason's  ear  they  all  rejoice, 

And  utter  forth  a  glorious  voice, 

Forever  singing,  as  they  shine, 

"The  hand  that  made  us  is  divine."— .-^i/i/'/.vc;/. 


NDEX  TO  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


Abel,  Denison, 
Allen,  Edmund, 
Allen,  Frederick  S., 
Allen,  James  G., 
Allen,  Samuel  S., 
Allin,  Delias, 
Allis,  William  S., 
Appleton,  Morgan, 
Attleton,  Rodolphus  T., 
Austin,  Charles  V.  R., 
Bangs,  Allen, 
Bangs,  Benjamin, 
Bangs,  John, 
Bannon,  Oliver  B., 
Bannon,  Robert  E., 
Barber,  Joel  D., 
Barber,  William  H., 
Bates,  Dvvight  E., 
Bates,  Edmund, 
Bates,  Francis  A., 
Bates,  James, 
]5ates,  Monroe, 
Bates,  Walter, 
P)eebe,  Eleazer  S., 
Beebe,  John  S., 
Benton,  Joel  C, 
P.enton,  Justin  B., 
Bigelow,  Artemas, 
Blackman,  Charles, 
Blake,  Ilamblin, 
Wake,  Marshall  B., 
lilanchard,  Geo.  \V., 
]51iss,  Benjamin  K., 
Bliss,  Edwin  E., 
HIiss,  Elisha,  Jr., 
liliss,  Henry, 


pa(;e 

!'A(,K 

69 

Bliss,  Isaac  G., 

43 

75 

Bliss,  Luther,  Jr., 

59 

69 

Bliss,  Thomas  W., 

77 

61 

151iss,  William  White, 

63 

75 

Bond,  Ephraim  W., 

38 

55 

Bond.  Geo.  T., 

49 

75 

Bond,  Thomas, 

11 

78 

Bond,  William  B  , 

yi 

75 

Bontecou,  William  E., 

47 

69 

Booth,  Alfred, 

39 

73 

Bowles,  Samuel, 

45 

78 

Boylston,  Jonathan  C, 

5' 

72, 

Brewer,  James  D., 

40 

66 

Briggs,  Albert  D., 

40 

75 

Brown,  Joseph, 

73 

51 

Bryant,  James  S., 

61 

54 

Buckland,  Walter, 

78 

72 

Bunker,  Charles  R., 

40 

76 

Bunker,  Geo.  R., 

IZ 

48 

Burt,  Richard, 

76 

71 

Butterfield,  Henry, 

67 

74 

Butterfield,  James  H., 

66 

75 

Butterfield,  Oliver, 

67 

79 

Cadwell,  George  G, 

40 

65 

Callender,  William  H.  D., 

62 

37 

Gate,  George  P., 

75 

75 

Chapin,  Abijah  \V., 

5- 

34 

Chapin,  Charles, 

78 

69 

Chapin,  Charles  C, 

4- 

11 

Cha])in,  Charles  W., 

39 

36 

Chapin,  Harvey  1)., 

35 

45 

C'hapin,  Henry  S., 

78 

46 

Chapin,  Josiah  B., 

51 

47 

Chapin,  Luther, 

79 

4' 

Chapin,  Roswell  L., 

11 

79 

Chapin,  Samuel  L., 

37 

'old  high  school. 


93 


ChajMiian,  lleiirv  W., 
Chapman,  William  \V. 
Child,  James  K., 
Child,  William  C, 
Childs,  Asa])h  K., 
Childs,  Charles, 
Childs,  Thomas  S., 
Clark,  George  S., 
Clark,  J.  Hubbard, 
Clark,  Joseph  C, 
Clark,  Silas  D., 
Collier,  Charles, 
Colton,  George, 
Coltoii,  John, 
Comstock,  Henry, 
Cook,  Philo  H., 
Cooley,  George  A., 
Crosby,  L.  V.  H., 
Cutler,  Horace, 
Cutler,  Lewis, 
Dale,  Thomas  N., 
Dickinson,  William, 
Draper,  Horace  T., 
Eastman,  James  P., 
Emery,  Charles, 
Emery,  John  A., 
Faulkner,  Charles  S., 
Ferre,  Daniel, 
Ferre,  Henry  P., 
Ferre,  Horace  R., 
Ferre,  Lyman, 
Foot,  John  ]!., 
Foster,  William,  Jr., 
Foster,  William  PL, 
Frost,  George  L., 
Frost,  Joshua., 
Fuller,  Halsey., 
Gay,  N.  Denslow,      ^ 
Gay,  Samuel  O., 
Goodman,  Haskell  C, 
Goodman,  James, 
Goodrich,  Henry  C, 
Grant,  Luther, 
Hall,  Charles  S., 
Hall,  Henry  M., 
Hall,  Linville  J., 
Harding,  William  IL, 


PAGE 

PAGE 

6S 

Hatch,  Arthur, 

70 

49 

Hatch,  J.  Bryant, 

77 

71 

Hatch,  James  B., 

37 

71 

Hatch,  William  Stanley, 

51 

78 

Heath,  Alfred, 

77 

73 

Heath,  Emerson, 

77 

62 

Heath,  William, 

77 

71 

Hendrick,  John  M., 

77 

64 

Hibbard,  Enoch  J., 

63 

71 

Hopkins,  Caleb, 

32 

70 

Hubbard,  Alvin  A., 

75 

74 

Hubbard,  Charles  W., 

53 

5- 

Hubbard,  Chauncey  H  , 

48 

41 

Hubbard,  George  PL, 

63 

45 

Hubbard,  Samuel  B., 

79 

75 

Hubbard,  William, 

78 

75 

Jones,  George  A., 

70 

73 

Jones,  Justin, 

71 

67 

Kendall,  George  S., 

72 

67 

Kimberly,  John, 

65 

35 

Kimberly,  William  A., 

71 

46 

Kingsbury,  Abel  C, 

42 

43 

Kirkham,  Albert  H., 

68 

49 

Kirkham,  James, 

54 

32 

Kirkham,  Ralph  W., 

44 

37 

Lay,  Henry  D., 

67 

62 

Lee,  David  K., 

73 

64 

Lee,  Horace  C, 

50 

69 

Lee,  Samuel  P., 

73 

60 

Lepard,  August, 

72 

76 

Lloyd,  George, 

78 

66 

Lombard,  Joseph  B., 

72 

42 

Lombard,  Roswell, 

73 

71 

Loring,  Benjamin, 

69 

41 

Lyman,  George 

77 

63 

Lyman,  Samuel, 

77 

79 

Marsh,  Joseph, 

75 

55 

May,  Edward  R., 

46 

66 

Miller,  Joel, 

42 

75 

Miller,  John  S., 

79 

60 

Miller,  Joseph, 

53 

71 

Mills,  Isaac, 

6S 

74 

Mills,  John, 

70 

78 

Mills,  Warren, 

54 

63 

Moore,  S.  Whitmarsh, 

70 

58 

Morris,  George  B., 

38 

78 

Morris,  Henry, 

5° 

94 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


PAGE 

Moseley,  Harvey  E., 

67 

-Moseley,  Seth  H., 

48 

Murphy,  J.  Spencer, 

75 

Newell,  Nelson  C, 

55 

Newell,  Samuel  R., 

55 

Osborn,  George  E., 

64 

Osgood,  Edward  S., 

73 

Osgood,  James  M., 

41 

Osgood,  Samuel  M., 

53 

Otis,  Samuel  F., 

73 

Parker,  Frank  J., 

65 

Parker,  R.  S., 

72 

Patch,  Eli  H., 

55 

Pease,  Giles, 

76 

Perry,  Erasmus  D., 

76 

Pierce,  Bradford  K., 

32 

Pierce,  Lucien, 

71 

Pomeroy,  Daniel, 

74 

Potter,  Elam  O., 

50 

Potter,  Francis  T., 

59 

Potter,  Otis  R., 

53 

Potter,  Peter  R., 

51 

Pratt,  George, 

11 

Pratt,  John  F., 

64 

Pynchon,  Daniel, 

46 

Pynchoii,  John, 

62 

Pynchon,  Josei)h  C, 

3' 

Pynchon,  William, 

74 

Ranney,  John, 

11 

Rice,  Charles  \\'., 

lA 

Rice,  David, 

78 

Rice,  Henry  B., 

74 

Rice,  William, 

39 

Rice,  William  C, 

76 

Richardson,  15enj.  S., 

65 

Richmond,  Franklin, 

78 

Ring,  ICleazer  J., 

72 

Ring,   Ethan  C., 

69 

Roberts,  Franklin, 

11 

Rogers,  Edwin  T., 

65 

Russell,  Amos, 

72 

Russell,  Benj.  A., 

74 

Russell,  George  B., 

71 

Russell,  James  I-".., 

64 

Russell,  John  W., 

61 

Russell,  Josei)h   I'. , 

74 

Russell,  William  11., 

68 

Saunders,  Esek, 
Schipper,  George, 
Schipper,  Theodore, 
Searle,  Silas, 
Searle,  William, 
Sexton,  Horatio, 
Sexton,  John  Q.  A., 
Sexton,  Joseph, 
Sexton,  Oliver, 
Shattuck,  Calvin  S., 
Shepard,  James  T., 
Sikes,  James, 
Sikes,  Lester  F., 
Sikes,  Lyman, 
Sizer,  Daniel, 
Sizer,  Samuel, 
Smith,  George, 
Starkey,  Henry  F., 
Stearns,  Charles  W., 
Stebbins,  Charles, 
Stebbins,  Edward  C. 
Stebbins,  George  P., 
Stebbins,  Horatio, 
Stebbins,  Jackson, 
Stebbins,  John  B., 
Stebbins,  Lewis, 
Stebbins,  Randolph, 
Stebbins,  Roderick, 
Stebbins,  William, 
Swan,  James,  Jr., 
Sykes,  M.  L., 
Tannatt,  George  F., 
Taylor,  Edwin, 
Taylor,  Orrin  L. , 
Thayer,  Charles, 
'I'obey,  George, 
Tobey,  Warren  D., 
Trask,  Edward, 
Trask,  Israel, 
Trask,  William   V.., 
Tyler,  George, 
Wait,  Calvin, 
Wait,  John  C, 
Walker,  Noah  P., 
Warner,  Amaziah  S., 
Warner,  Benjamin  F. 
Warner,  Samuel, 


79 
75 
69 

77 
77 
67 
69 

71 
79 
53 
76 

77 
65 
79 
77 

n 
76 
76 
36 
49 
76 

63 
41 
76 

38 
61 

71 
76 
40 
64 
56 
41 
76 

11 
11 
74 
63 
78 
61 

49 
62 

5° 
71 
76 
64 
61 
77 


"old  high  school. 


95 


Wairiner,  William  D., 
Wells,  David  A., 
Wells,  Dexter  W., 
Wells,  James, 
White,  Moses  Hazen, 


43 
45 
51 
39 


Wilcox,  William  L. 
Wood,  Coibin  O., 
\Vood,  Loren, 
Wood,  Reuben. 


PAGE 
70 

/8 
11 
74 


LIST  OF   PORTRAITS. 


Bannon,  Oliver  1!., 
Blake,  Marshall    B., 
Bliss,  B.  K., 
Brewer,  James  D., 
Calhoun,  Simeon  H., 
Chapin,  Abijah  W., 
Chapin,  Charles  O., 
Chapin  Charles  W., 
Childs,  A.  K., 
Childs,  Rev.  Thos.  S., 
Emery,  Capt.  Chas., 
Goodman,  James, 
Hall,  Rev.  Linville  J., 
Hebard,  Story, 
Kirkham,  A.  H., 
Kirkham,  James, 
Kirkham,  Gen.  R.  W., 
Lee,  Gen.  H.  C, 
Morley,  Sardis  B., 
Moseley,  Seth  H., 
Pynchon,  Dr.  Joseph  C, 
Ring,  E.  J., 
Russell,  James  E  , 
Shepard,  James  T., 
Stebbins,  John  B., 
Sykes,  James  N., 
Sykes,  M.  L., 
Tobey,  Geo., 
Vaille,  Henry  R., 
Wilcox,  W^  L., 


opposite  66 

"         36 

"         46 

40 

"         12 

52 

42 

Frontispiece. 

opposite  78 

62 

3- 
60 


6S 
54 
44 
50 
14 
48 

30 
72 
64 
76 

3-^ 
18 

56 
74 
16 


RECENT  DEATHS. 


Since  the  commencement  of  the  work  of  gathering  up 
the  reminiscences  of  the  "  Old  High  School,"  a  period  of 
nearly  two  years,  the  following  members  have  died  : — 

Rev.  Dr.  Isaac  G.  Bliss,  Assiout,  Egypt,  Jan.,  1889, 
aged  Gj  years. 

JosiAH  B.  Chapin,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  19,  1889,  in  his 
71st  year. 

Dr.  Joseph  C.  Pvnchox,   Springfield,   Mass.,    April  9, 

1889,  aged  74  years. 

Rev.  Dr.  Bradford  K.  Pierce,  Newton,  Mass.,  April 
19,  1889,  aged  JJ  years. 

Dr.  Francis  A.  Bates,  Marion,  Ala.,  April  23,  1889, 
aged  70  years. 

Capt.  Charles  Emery,  Dorchester,  Mass.,  Jan.  3,  1890, 
aged  73  years. 

The  under-mentioned  pupils  have  died  since  the  preced- 
ing pages  were  printed  : — 

James  Wells,  Springfield,  Mass.,  March  5,  1890,  in 
the  70th  year  of  his  age. 

George    P.    Stebbins,    Springfield,    Mass.,    March    17, 

1890,  aged  65  years. 


HISTORY 

OF 

THE  SEMINARY 

ON  MAPLE   STREET, 

SPRINGFIELD,  MASSACHUSETTS, 

ESTABLISHED  IN  1832, 
AS  CONDUCTED  BY  GEORGE  EATON,  ESQ. 

WITH 

THE   NAMES  OF    169  PUPILS, 

INCLUDING    SOME   OF   THOSE    UNDER   THE   TEACHINOS   OF 

MISS  CHARLOTTE  A.  CATLIN. 


BY  CHARLES  WELLS  CHAPIN. 


^  Alter uin  alter ius  auxilio  eget." 


Copyrighted,   iSgo. 


It  seems  eminently  proper  that,  in  addition  to  tlie 
mention  of  the  young  ladies  in  the  following  pages,  brief 
allusion  should  be  made  to  their  husbands,  solely  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  to  them  the  credit  of  their  success  in 
selecting  partners  for  the  journey  of  life.  With  barely  an 
exception  all  have  been  fortunate,  and  their  husbands  have 
been  successful  in  business  and  many  have  risen  to  posi- 
tions of  honor  and  trust. 


f;E()RGK    EATON. 


THE   OLD    SEMINARY, 

ON    MAPLE    STREET. 


In  183 1  the  proprietors  of  the  "female  seminary  in 
Springfield  "  bought  of  Charles  Stearns  a  lot  of  land  on 
Maple  street,  four  rods  by  eight  rods,  for  ^300,  on  which 
the  following  year  they  erected  the  house,  Jj  Maple  street, 
now  occupied  as  a  private  dwelling.  The  house  when 
originally  built  was  three  stories  in  height,  and  was  heated 
during  the  winter  by  placing  a  cast-iron  box-stove  in  the 
cellar  and  tin-pipes  up  through  each  floor  to  conduct  the 
heat  from  pine  wood  used  as  fuel.  On  the  opening  of  the 
seminary,  about  the  year  1834,  Miss  Judith  Hawks  (who 
had  established  a  private  school  in  "  Carew's  hall,"  also 
called  "Masonic  hall,"  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  State 
streets,  over  the  drug  store  of  the  late  J.  T.  Webber)  was 
engaged  as  its  principal.  After  about  two  years  of  success- 
ful management  she  retired,  and  was  succeeded  by  Misses 
Mary  and  Celia  Campbell,  former  pupils  of  Miss  Hawks. 

George  Eaton,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1833, 
a  gentleman  of  scholarly  attainments,  succeeded  the  Misses 
Campbell,  and  conducted  the  school  with  marked  success 
until  the  year  1843.  Although  the  school  was  intended 
for  the  education  of  girls,  Mr.  Eaton  introduced  a  new 
departure  by  permitting  boys  to  enter.  A  number  of  the 
stockholders  sent  their  boys  to  the  school.  It  was  not 
agreeable  to  some  of  the  boys  to  be  obliged  to  attend 
school  where  girls  were  to  be  their  schoolmates,  but  they 
soon  became  reconciled  to  the  change,  under  the  encour- 
aging sympathy  manifested  by  the  girls  for  their  bash- 
fulness.  Mr.  Eaton  had  for  assistant  teachers  his  sisters, 
Misses  Mary  and  Sarah  Eaton.     Children  of  parents  living 


I02  HISTORY    OF 

on  the  public  grounds  at  the  United  States  Armory  were 
not  allowed  to  attend  the  schools  of  the  town,  and  in 
consequence  many  of  them  became  pupils  of  Mr.  Eaton. 
Among  these  were  the  following: — 

Helen  Wolcott,  Agawam,  Mass. 

Martha  Wolcott,  Agawam,  Mass. — Died  Feb.  7,  1888, 
in  the  70th  year  of  her  age. 

Elizabeth  H.  Wolcott,  Agawam,  Mass. 

George  Wolcott,  Ouincy,  111. — Civil  engineer.  He 
was  engaged  in  the  survey  of  the  Panama  Railroad  and  of 
some  of  the  most  prominent  railroads  of  the  United  States. 

William  Wolcott,  Agawam,  Mass. — A  farmer. 

Elisha  Gunn,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  chief  engineer 
of  the  fire  department  for  eight  years  succeeding  the  year 
1848.  He  was  successfully  engaged  in  business  for  many 
years  with  his  brother  (the  late  William  Gunn),  but  is  now 
retired.  He  is  a  trustee  in  the  Springfield  Institution  for 
Savings. 

Samuel  Dale. — A  civil  engineer.  Was  employed  on 
the  survey  and  location  of  the  Western  (now  the  Boston  & 
Albany)  Railroad  in  1836-37.  From  1837  to  1845  was 
employed  at  the  U.  S.  Armory.  In  1847  was  engaged  on 
the  survey  of  the  Brookline  Branch  of  the  Boston  &  Wor- 
cester Railroad.  From  1848  to  1849  was  on  the  construction 
of  the  Northern  New  York  Railroad,  engineering.  From 
1849  to  1852,  in  charge  of  survey  and  construction  of  the 
Richmond  &  Danville  Railroad,  Virginia,  and  the  North 
Carolina  Railroad.  From  1852  to  1854  he  was  in  charge 
of  the  survey  and  construction  of  the  Hampshire  &  Hamp- 
den Railroad  from  Westfield  to  Northampton,  Mass.  In 
1 854  was  on  the  Sacketts  Harbor  &  Saratoga  Railroad  ;  from 
1856  to  1859  on  the  Stonington  &  New  London  Railroad. 
He  was  on  the  survey  of  the  Atlantic  &  Great  Western 
Railroad,  Pennsylvania,  from  1861  to  1866;  from  1869  to 
1872  was  in  office  at  Chicago,  111.,  engaged  on   the  deepen- 


RLISHA    GUNN. 


THE    SEMINARY.  IO3 

ing  of  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  In  1872  he  was  on 
the  Sny  Island  levee,  Mississippi  river;  in  1873  on  the 
Cairo  &  Vincennes  Railroad;  from  1874  to  1876  he  was 
under  Col.  John  W.  Barlow  of  the  U.  S.  Engineer  Corps 
on  government  inspection  of  the  harbor  improvements  at 
'Norwalk  and  Milford,  Conn.  Since  1878  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  engineer's  office  of  the  Boston  &  Albany 
Railroad  at  Springfield,  Mass.  He  was  born  Nov.  26,  1819. 
Mr.  Dale  is  proficient,  and  well  known  for  his  thoroughness 
in  the  details  of  civil  engineering. 

George  Dale,  Stafibrd,  Conn. —  Farmer.  He  died 
Oct.  10,  1886,  aged  62  years. 

Owen  Dorsey  Robb,  Annapolis,  Md. — For  many  years 
connected  with  the  naval  academy.  He  died  April  i,  1875, 
aged  50  years. 

Adonijah  Foot. — Civil  engineer.  Died  in  Carrollville, 
Miss.,  April  12,  i860,  aged  ^y  years. 

Edward  R.   Lee,  Springfield,  Mass. — A  printer  in  the 
Republican  office.     He  died  May  12,  1855,  aged  30  years. 
Ralph  Warriner. 
Laure  Pease. 

Those  that  attended  the  school  from  the  prominent 
families  of  the  town  were  as  follows  : — 

LuciNDA  O.  Howard,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Sarah  Bliss,  now  Mrs.  George  Walker,  Washington, 
D.  C. — Hon.  Geo.  Walker  was  a  lawyer.  A  graduate  of 
Dartmouth  College  in  1845.  A  member  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Senate  in  1858-59,  and  the  Massachusetts  House  of 
Representatives  in  1868.  He  was  elected  president  of  the 
Third  National  Bank  upon  its  organization  in  1864.  He 
was  appointed  Consul  General  at  Paris,  France,  Feb.  12, 
1880.  His  successor  was  appointed  May  17,  1887.  He 
died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.  15,  1888,  in  the  64th  year 
of  his  aoe. 


I04  HISTORY    OF 

Elizabeth  Bangs,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  Feb.  14, 
1856,  aged  30. 

Sarah  Bangs,  Springfield,  Mass.  —  Died  March  27, 
1846,  aged  23. 

Julia  Bowles. — Married  Adonijah  Foot.  She  died  in 
Mississippi  Aug.  29,  1851,  aged  27. 

Mary  Bangs,  Boston,  Mass. 

Amelia  P.  Bowles,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Alexander, 
Springfield,  Mass. — Hon.  Henry  Alexander,  Jr.,  was  the 
cashier  of  the  Pynchon  Bank  from  its  organization  in  1853 
until  1858.  He  was  an  alderman  in  1857-58,  and  mayor  of 
Springfield  in  1863-64;  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Senate  from  1865-68;  U.  S.  deputy  collector  of  internal 
revenue  for  the  loth  District  of  Massachusetts  in  1870-71  ; 
presidential  elector  in  1872.  He  was  a  director  and  the 
president  of  the  old  Springfield  Bank,  now  the  Second 
National,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  July  24,  1878,  in 
the  60th  year  of  his  age. 

Louisa  Weatherhead. — Married  Daniel  D.  Warren, 
Springfield,  Mass.  She  died  June  26,  1864,  aged  41  years. 
Mr.  Warren  was  a  merchant  previous  to  1872.  He  and  the 
late  Willis  Phelps  were  contractors  in  the  building  of  the 
Council  Bluff  and  the  St.  Joseph,  the  Missouri  Valley,  the 
Lake  Ontario  Shore,  and  the  Connecticut  Central  railroads. 
He  was  the  president  of  the  Connecticut  Central  in  1876. 
Mr.  Warren  was  associated  with  the  late  William  Birnie  as 
contractor  in  building  the  Springfield  &  New  London  Rail- 
road, and  in  the  construction  of  the  Troy  &  Greenfield  Rail- 
road. He  was  the  sole  contractor  for  the  Watertown 
(N.  Y.)  &  Carthage  Railroad.  On  the  building  of  the  New 
York,  West  Shore  &  lUiffalo  road,  he  was  the  contractor 
on  the  division  from  Little  i'^alls  to  Schenectady,  and  was 
a  director  of  the  road.  He  was  a  stockholder  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Union  Paper  Company,  a  stockholder  and 
director  of  the  Worthy  Paper  Company,  owning  paper  mills 
in  Bondville,  and  Pepperell,  Mass.     He  was  treasurer  of  the 


THE    SEMINARY.  IO5 

Warren  Woolen  Company  at  Stafford,  Conn.,  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  25th  of  January,  1888, 
at  the  age  of  64  years. 

Maria  Louisa  Crosby. 

Margarette  WiLLARD,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  Oct. 
14,  1841,  aged  19. 

Susan  S.  Willard,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  Sept.  27, 
1885,  aged  61. 

Sarah  B.  Willard,  Springfield,  Mass. 
Charlotte  Willard,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Eunice  Brewer,  now  Mrs.  Dr.  David  P.  Smith,  Spring- 
field, Mass. — Dr.  Smith  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  185  i, 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  in  1854:  was  pro- 
fessor of  surgery,  Yale  College,  1877  to  1880.  He  was 
appointed  surgeon  U.  S.  Vols,  with  rank  of  major,  Dec.  24, 
1861  ;  brevet  lieutenant-colonel  U.  S.  Vols.  Aug.  15,  1865, 
for  faithful  and  meritorious  service  during  the  late  war. 
He  was  honorably  mustered  out  of  service  Aug.  18,  1865. 
Dr.  Smith  was  the  medical  examiner  for  the  Massachusetts 
Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company,  Springfield,  Mass.  He 
died  Dec.  26,  1880,  aged  50  years. 

Ann  Foster,  now  Mrs.  Alexander  Stocking,  Worces- 
ter, Mass. 

Elizabeth  Kingsbury,  now  Mrs.  William  W.  Lee, 
Springfield,  Mass. — Mr.  Lee  was  a  clerk  in  the  paymaster's 
office  at  the  U.  S.  Armory  in  1845-46.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  in  1848-49,  with  the  late  Cicero  Simons, 
under  the  firm  of  Simons  &  Lee.  He  was  one  of  the  early 
and  most  active  members  of  Christ  Church  (Episcopal), 
Springfield,  Mass.,  and  for  many  years  one  of  its  principal 
officers.  He  was  an  exemplary  citizen,  and  was  univer- 
sally esteemed.  He  died  at  Chatham  Four  Corners,  N.  Y., 
Feb.  23,  1854,  at  the  age  of4i  years. 

Elizabeth  Lathrop,  New  York  City,  now  Mrs.  George 
B.   Morris. 


I06  HISTORY    OF 

Catharine  B.  Lathrop,  New  York  City,  now  Mrs. 
Oliver  E.  Wood. 

Marv  Swift,  now  Mrs.  Ironsides,  New  London,  Conn. 
— Her  husband  was  a  merchant  in  New  York  city. 

Mary  D.  Flint,  now  Mrs.  Daniel  G.  Bacon,  New  York 
City. 

Elizabeth  H.  Flint. — Married  Dr.  Arthur  W.  Shiver- 
ick.  New  York  city.  She  died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  April 
13,  1889,  at  the  age  of  65. 

Sophia  Stebbins,  Springfield,  Mass. — She  died  Dec. 
26,  1 84 1,  aged  19. 

Emily  S.  Bliss,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  June  13,  1880, 
aged  57. 

Elizabeth  Sterns. — Died  in  Boston,  Mass. 

Lucy  Brewer. — Married  a  Mr.  Stockbridge  of  Hart- 
ord,  Conn. 

Hannah  W.  Howard. —  Married  Capt.  William  H. 
Swift,  New  York.  Capt.  Swift  was  a  cadet  at  West  Point 
in  1813,  and  second-lieutenant  First  Regiment  of  Artillery 
in  1821  ;  first  lieutenant  in  1824.  Was  appointed  an 
assistant  topographical  engineer  in  1832  with  the  rank 
of  captain,  and  in  1H33  an  assistant  in  the  coast  survey, 
which  position  he  held  for  ten  years.  Upon  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Western  Railroad  to  be  built  from  Wor- 
cester to  Albany  he  was  appointed  resident  engineer  of  the 
road  Jan.  7,  1836.  He  resigned  the  office  in  the  winter  of 
1839-40.  He  became  president  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wil- 
mington &  Baltimore  Railroad  in  1849,  residing  in  Phila- 
delphia. In  February,  185 1,  he  returned  to  Springfield, 
Mass.,  and  was  chosen  president  of  the  Western  Railroad, 
now  the  Boston  &  Albany,  which  position  he  held  until 
1854,  when  he  resigned.  He  removed  to  New  York,  where 
he  was  much  interested  in  railroads  as  the  correspondent 
and  confidential  agent  of  Barings  l^ros.  &  Co.,  London, 
Eng.      He  died  in  New  \'ork  several  years  ago. 


THE    SEMINARY, 


107 


Sarah  Osgood,  Anclover,  Mass.,  now  Mrs.  Alexander 
H.  Avery. —  Mr.  Avery  was  a  prominent  merchant  in 
Springfield,  Mass.,  firm  of  Huntington,  Avery  &  Co.  He 
died  at  Brookline,  Mass.,  June  27,  1862,  aged  48  years. 

Margarette  Howard. —  Married  Charles  W.  Swift, 
London,  England. 

Eliza  W.  Howard,  Paris,  Erance. — Married  Baron  de 
Stoeckl,  the  Russian  Minister  to  the  United  States.  He 
presented  his  credentials  as  Russian  chargc-cV affaires  at 
Washington,  March  24,  1854;  ^s  minister,  February  21, 
1857.     He  left  on  leave  Oct.  13,  1868. 

Eanny  a.  Howard,  Paris,  PVance. 

Charlotte  B.  Chapin,  now  Mrs.  William  B.  Brinsmade, 
Washington,  Conn. —  Mr.  Brinsmade  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  1840.  He  was  a  prominent  civil  engineer.  He 
first  commenced  engineering  for  the  Housatonic  Railroad. 
In  1844  he  was  engaged  in  the  survey  of  the  Connecticut 
River  Railroad,  also  on  the  survey  of  the  New  York  & 
New  Haven  Railroad  from  1847  to  1849  ;  from  thence  he 
went  on  to  the  survey  of  the  Hartford,  Providence  &  Fish- 
kill  (from  Newington  to  Bristol)  until  June,  1850.  In  May, 
185  I,  he  commenced  the  survey  of  the  Troy&  Boston  road, 
where  he  remained  until  April,  1852.  In  the  fall  of  that 
year  he  went  to  Ohio  and  was  engaged  in  the  survey  of 
the  Clinton  Line  Railroad,  where  he  remained  about  three 
years.  The  late  Professor  Plenry  N.  Day  of  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  who  died  in  January,  1890,  was  the  president  of  the 
road.  In  1856  Mr.  Brinsmade  was  elected  superintendent 
of  the  Connecticut  River  Railroad,  In  August,  1868,  owing 
to  ill  health,  he  went  to  Europe.  Returning  in  April,  1869, 
he  again  assumed  the  duties  of  superintendent,  when  in 
January,  1870,  he  resigned  his  office,  and  to  benefit  his 
health  sailed  from  New  York,  October  21,  1870,  for  a  voyage 
to  California,  via  Cape  Horn,  arriving  at  San  Francisco  in 
March,  1871,  returning  home  in  May  the  same  year.  Mr. 
Brinsmade's  death  occurred  at  Washington,  Conn.,  Mav  16, 


I08  HISTORY    OF 

1880,  at  the  age  of  61  years.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by 
all  who  knew  him,  and  was  especially  esteemed  in  railroad 
circles,  being  conspicuous  for  his  practical  good  sense  and 
calm  judgment,  which  rendered  him  a  safe  adviser  in  mat- 
ters requiring  equitable  adjustment. 

Caroline  L.  Edwards,  now  Mrs.  William  L.  Smith, 
Springfield,  Mass. —  Hon.  William  L.  Smith  was  a  prominent 
lawyer.  He  compiled  a  work  on  probate  law,  issued  in  1863 
with  revised  editions  down  to  1884.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
common  council  in  1858,  1866,  and  1867,  the  latter  year 
its  president  ;  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  House  of 
Representatives  in  1862  ;  U.  S.  commissioner  during  the 
late  civil  war;  mayor  of  Springfield  in  1870-71  ;  state 
senator  in  1872.  He  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
of  fifty  having  in  charge  the  city's  250th  anniversary  in 
May,  1886.  He  died  May  19,  1887,  in  the  63d  year  of  his 
age. 

Mary  C.  Bliss,  now  Mrs.  Edmund  D.  Chapin,  Spring- 
field, Mass. — Mr.  Chapin,  in  1828,  entered  as  clerk  the  store 
of  Dr.  Elisha  Edwards,  who  was  the  most  prominent  mer- 
chant in  this  vicinity  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  drug 
business.  After  seven  years'  service  he  went  into  the  old 
Springfield  Bank,  then  located  on  State  street,  where  he 
remained  until  1840.  At  that  time  James  Byers  was  presi- 
dent and  John  Howard  cashier.  He  afterwards  engaged  in 
business  (1842)  at  the  old  stand  of  Dr.  Edwards  on  Main 
street,  in  connection  with  the  late  Theodore  Bliss,  and  ]^en- 
jamin  K.  Bliss  now  of  East  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  under  the 
firm  of  Bliss,  Chapin  &  Co.  At  the  death  of  the  senior 
partner  in  1845,  Mr.  B.  K.  Bliss  withdrew  from  the  firm 
and  the  late  William  Gunn  became  a  partner  with  Mr. 
Chapin,  the  firm  being  Chapin  &  Gunn.  In  1848  Mr. 
Chapin  retired  from  the  business.  In  that  year  he  accepted 
the  cashiership  of  the  Lee  Bank  at  Lee,  Mass.,  where  he 
remained  two  years.  In  1850  he  accepted  the  position  of 
cashier   of  the  John    Hancock    liank,   then   organized   and 


THE    SEMINARY.  IO9 

located  on  the  Hill.  He  held  the  cashiership  until  Janu- 
ary, 1890,  a  period  of  quite  forty  years,  when  he  was 
elected  its  president,  his  predecessor  retiring  after  a  serv- 
ice of  twenty-five  years.  Mr.  Chapin  is  also  a  director  of 
the  bank.  It  was  at  the  suggestion  of  the  late  James  W. 
Crooks,  Esq.,  that  the  bank  was  named  in  honor  of  John 
Hancock,  "  Esquire"  Crooks  being  a  great  admirer  of  that 
fearless  patriot,  and  of  his  bold  signature. 

Martha  A.  Bliss. —  Married  Frederick  H.  Harris, 
Springfield,  Mass.  She  died  Jan.  22,  1890,  in  the  65th  year 
of  her  age.  Mr.  Harris  entered  the  old  Springfield  Bank 
in  1839,  as  clerk,  when  located  on  State  street.  From  1848 
to  1857  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  first  with 
the  late  William  Beebe,  the  firm  being  Beebe  &  Harris, 
then  with  Daniel  Colton,  under  the  firm  of  Harris  &  Colton. 
In  1858  he  was  appointed  cashier  of  the  Pynchon  Bank 
(succeeding  the  late  Henry  Alexander,  Jr.),  where  he 
remained  until  1863.  He  was  an  alderman  in  the  city 
councils  in  1864,  1865,  1866,  1867.  When  the  Third 
National  Bank  was  organized  in  1864,  he  was  chosen  cashier, 
holding  the  position  until  1866,  when,  on  the  decease  of 
Joseph  C.  Parsons,  who  was  president  of  the  bank,  Mr. 
Harris  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  He  is  also  a  director 
of  the  bank,  and  a  director  in  the  Fire  and  Marine  Insurance 
Company. 

Sophia  Orne  Edwards,  now  Mrs.  James  H.  Johnson, 
Bath,  N.  H. — Hon.  James  H.  Johnson  was  a  senator  in  the 
New  Hampshire  Legislature  in  1839,  ^"^  state  councilor 
in  1842-43.  He  was  a  representative  in  Congress  from 
1845  to  1847,  serving  on  the  committee  on  manufactures. 
He  died  at  Bath,  N.  H.,  Sept.  12,  1887,  aged  85  years. 

Mary  Marston. 

Henrietta  Jones,  Springfield,  Mass.,  now  Mrs.  Lem- 
uel Davis. — Her  husband  was  for  many  years  a  prominent 
dry  goods  merchant  in  this  city. 


no  HISTORY    OF 

Rebecca  Ames,  now  Mrs.  Solomon  J.  Gordon,  Spring- 
field, Mass. — Mr.  Gordon  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1847.     He  is  now  an  eminent  lawyer  in  New  York  city. 

Caroline  L.  Frost. — Married  Wellington  Thompson. 
Residence,  Cambridge,  Mass.  She  died  at  Somerville, 
Mass.,  Dec.  i,  1S65,  aged  36  years. 

Helen  Bardwell,  now  Mrs.  VV.  B.  Angell,  Boston, 
Mass. 

Rebecca  Eaton,  Wellesley  Hills,  Mass. 

Louisa  Eaton,  now  Mrs.  S.  H.  Austin,  Wellesley 
Hills,  Mass. 

Lucy  Loring,  resided  in   Philadelphia,  Penn. 

Maria  Loring. 

Susan  Oaks,  Coldwater,  Mich. — Married  a  Mr.  Bullard. 

Jane  H.  Hatch. — Went  South.  She  diedat  Apalachi- 
cola,  Fla.,  Aug.  29,  185  i,  in  the  51st  year  of  her  age. 

P'rances  B.  Peadody,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  Jan.  29, 
1844,  at  the  age  of  18. 

Maria  Cummings. — Famous  as  the  authoress  of  "  The 
Lamplighter."     The  book  was  published  in  l^oston  in  1869. 

Hannah  A.  Eaton,  Wellesley  Hills,  Mass. 

Johanna  Eaton. — Died  many  years  ago. 

Hannah  T.  Carew. — Married  Chauncey  L.  Covell, 
Springfield,  Mass.  She  died  Aug.  15,  1862,  aged  42. 
Mr.  Covell  was  a  merchant  and  a  prominent  manufacturer. 
He  was  president  and  director  of  the  Chester  Paper  Com- 
pany at  Huntington,  Mass.,  from  its  organization  in  1877; 
also  held  the  same  positions  in  the  Massasoit  Paper  Company, 
Holyoke,  Mass.  He  was  a  member  of  the  common  council 
of  Springfield  in  1856-57;  an  alderman  in  1859.  He  was 
a  director  of  the  Third  National  Bank  from  1877  until  his 
decease,  and  a  director  in  the  Springfield  P'ire  and  Marine 
Insurance  Company.  He  died  Nov.  22,  1887,  in  the  77th 
year  of  his  age. 


THE    SEMINARY.  I  I  I 

Martha  Glover. — Married  a  Mr.  Simmons,  Chicago, 
111. 

Fanny  Glover,  Chicago,  111. 

Margarette  E.  Harding,  now  Mrs.  Rev.  William 
O.  White,  Brookline,  Mass. 

Ophelia  Harding,  now  Mrs.  Judge  Krum,  St.  Louis, 
Mo. 

Caroline  Draper,  now  Mrs.  Dr.  Edward  Trask,  Los 
Angeles,  Cal. 

Mary  Warriner,  now  Mrs.  Judge  Henry  Morris, 
Springfield,  Mass. — Judge  Morris  was  a  graduate  of 
Amherst  College  in  1832.  He  was  chairman  of  the  board 
of  selectmen  of  the  town  of  Springfield  and  was  president 
of  the  common  council  when  it  became  a  city.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  in  1855.  The  same  year  he 
was  made  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  was 
a  trustee  of  Amherst  College.  In  1869  the  college  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  degree  of  LL.D.  Judge  Morris  was 
a  valued  local  historical  writer  of  much  worth.  He  was 
the  essayist  at  the  250th  Anniversary  of  the  settlement  of 
Springfield.  He  died  June  4,  1888,  in  the  74th  year  of  his 
age,  greatly  beloved  in  the  community  in  which  he  had  for 
so  many  years  resided. 

Ellen  Clary,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Maria   Foster,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Mary  S.  Day,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  in  1879,  aged 
58  years. 

Elizabeth  D.  Day,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  July   10, 

1839,  aged  14  years. 

Martha  D.  Graves,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  Oct.  19, 

1840,  aged  18  years. 

Lucy  Maria  Allen,  Springfield,  Mass. — Died  Aug.  9, 
1848,  aged  24  years. 

Julia  Foster,  Springfield,  Mass.,  now  Mrs.  Walter  E. 
Chapin. 


I  12  HISTORY    OF 

Hannah  M.  Bryant,  South  Deerfield,  Mass. 

Mary  Moorfield,  Brookline,  Mass. 

Mary  C.  Moore,  North  Hatfield,  Mass.,  now  Mrs. 
Asa  VV.  Sanderson. — The  late  William  S.  Elwell,  who  died 
at  Springfield,  Mass.,  Aug.  12,  1881,  at  the  age  of  71  years, 
painted  a  portrait  of  Miss  Moore  when  she  was  nine  years 
old,  and  again  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  This  portrait  was 
so  creditable  to  the  artist  as  well  as  to  the  original,  that  the 
late  Chester  Harding,  the  eminent  artist  (who  died  April  i, 
1866,  in  the  74th  year  of  his  age),  suggested  that  it  be  sent 
to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  it  hung  in  the  White  House 
for  two  years  beside  the  portrait  of  Mrs.  (President)  Madison. 

Elizabeth  Shipley,  Boston,  Mass. 

Mary  Emery,  Dorchester,  Mass. 

Catharine  Cummings,  Milton,  Mass. — Married  a  Mr. 
Tileston. 

Sophia  C.  Tobey. — Married  A.  S.  W.  Goodwin,  Esq., 
St.  Louis,  Mo.  She  died  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Feb.  23, 
1885,  at  the  age  of  70  years.       * 

Nancy  B.  Hatch. — Married  a  Mr.  Kent,  Cincinnati,  O. 
She  died  July  29,  1849,  a^ged  26  years. 

Ann  Osgood. — Died  in  California,  Jan.  26,  1857,  aged  26. 

Hannah  Lyman. — Resided  in  Philadelphia,  Penn. 

Helen  White. 

Fanny  Bangs. — Died  several  years  ago. 

Sarah  Bishop. 

Fanny  Bishop. 

Thomas  D.  Howard,  Charlestown,  N.  H. — A  graduate 
of  Harvard  College  in  1848.     A  Unitarian  clergyman. 

Samuel  Bowles,  Springfield,  Mass. — Journalist.  Died 
Jan.  16,  1878,  at  the  age  of  53. 

David  A.  Wells,  Norwich,  Conn. — A  graduate  of  Har- 
vard College  in   1851.     An  eminent  political  economist. 

Charles  W.  Chapin,  Springfield,  Mass. 


THE    SEMINARY.  II3 

Abijah  W.  Chapin,  Deerfielcl,  Mass. — He  was  postmas- 
ter of  Springfield,  Mass.,  from  September,  1853,  to  April, 
1861. 

Richard  Stebhins,  Omaha,  Neb. — A  physician.  A 
graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1846. 

Chester  Harding,  St.  Louis,  Mo. — A  graduate  of  Har- 
vard College  in  1847.  A  lawyer.  Was  at  one  time  judge 
of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Missouri.  He  was  colonel  of  the 
25th  and  the  43d  Missouri  Volunteers  and  brevet  brigadier- 
general  Union  army  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Gen- 
eral Harding  threw  all  his  influence  on  the  side  of  the 
Union.  A  prominent  Missourian  said  that  he  had  "done 
as  much  as  any  man  in  the  state  to  keep  her  in  the  Union." 
He  died  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  1875. 

Horace  Harding,  Tuscaloosa,  Ala. —  A  graduate  of 
Harvard  College  in  1848.  A  civil  engineer.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  20th  Alabama  regiment,  but  after  eight 
months'  service  was  detailed  on  railroad  duty.  Is  now  in 
government  employ  as  engineer  on  river  work  in  Alabama 
and  Mississippi. 

James  Harding. —  Settled  in  Missouri.  Was  quarter- 
master-general of  the  state  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war. 
Served  through  the  war  as  chief  quartermaster  of  General 
Price's  command,  and  as  an  ordnance  officer  at  Charleston, 
S.  C,  during  the  siege.  He  is  now  a  railroad  commissioner 
for  Missouri. 

George  Kingsburv,  Sacketts  Harbor,  N.  Y.  — Died 
Oct.   28,  1879,  age<^^  56- 

George  L.  Frost,  Dodgeville,  Wis. —  A  graduate  of 
Yale  College  in  1850,  and  Harvard  Law  School  in  1852  ;  a 
prominent  lawyer.     He  died  Feb.  15,  1879,  aged  49. 

James  Lathrop,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  —  Civil  engineer. 
Book-keeper  in  Boston  and  New  York.  Confidential  clerk 
to  Sidney  Dillon  in  New  York.  He  died  in  Brooklyn, 
Sept.  29,  1884. 


114  HISTORY    OF 

Thomas  D.  Kingsbury,  Arkadelphia,  Ark. — Merchant. 
Died  October  i,  1875,  aged  54. 

Edward  W.  Kinsley,  Boston,  Mass. —  Was  a  mer- 
chant for  many  years.  Now  raih^oad  commissioner  for  the 
State  of  Massachusetts. 

Mason  Willard,  Longmeadow,  Mass. — A  farmer. 

Alfred  Booth,  Springfield,  Mass. — Journalist. 

John  Hunt,  Vernon,  Vt. 

Horace  Cummincss. 

Thomas  Cummings. 

Bailey  Loring. 

Edward  Flint. —  Was  superintendent  of  the  Pacific 
Mail  Steamship.  Company,  also  engaged  in  the  shipping 
business  for  several  years  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.  On  the 
2 1  St  of  July,  1862,  he  started  homeward  for  a  visit  via  Pan- 
ama, being  a  passenger  on  the  steamer  "Golden  Gate," 
which  took  fire  on  July  27,  fifteen  miles  off  Manzanilla, 
Mex.,  and  was  burnt  to  the  water's  edge,  and  sunk  in  deep 
water.  About  two  hundred  persons  perished  in  this  disas- 
ter, among  those  who  were  lost  being  the  noble-hearted 
P'Hnt,  at  the  early  age  of  35.  One  of  his  old  schoolmates, 
now  an  eminent  physician  in  Nebraska,  writes  :  "  1  can  tes- 
tify that  he  was  a  boy  of  most  generous  impulses,  full  of 
genial  life,  a  good  student,  and  possessed  most  amiable  and 
loving  traits  of  character.  Poor  Ned  !  I  loved  him,  and 
have  dropped  many  tears  to  his  memory."' 


After  the  close  of  the  seminary  in  1843  Mr.  Eaton  trans- 
ferred the  school  to  his  own  residence,  140  Majile  street, 
wliich  he  liad  purchased  for  $5,200  in  July,  1836,  of  the  late 
Joseph  C.  Parsons.  The  house  which  he  then  occupied 
was  moved  several  years  ago  to  Central  street,  now  85  and 
87.  It  was  owned  after  Mr.  Eaton  left  it  by  William  Gunn, 
and  was  bv  him  moved  to  Central   street.     Mr.  Eaton  con- 


EDWARD    W.    KINSLEY. 


THE    SEMINARY.  115 

tinned  his  school  at  his  residence  until  about  the  year  1846. 
Among  his  pupils  at  this  time  from  the  prominent  families 
of  the  town  were  :  — 

Mary  Sciikrmerhokn,  now  Mrs.  Samuel  Bovvles.  Spring- 
field, Mass. 

Mary  Sterns,  now  Countess  Marie  Catucci,  Rome, 
Italy. 

Charlotte  Edwards,  now  Mrs.  B.  F.  Warner,  Spring- 
field, Mass. 

Mary  Bryant,  South  Deerfield,  Mass. 

Anna  B.  Dwight,  now  Mrs.  Baker,  New  York  City. 

Martha  Allen. — Married  J.  W.  A.  Strickland,  a  mer- 
chant. 

Sarah  Allen,  New  York  City. 

Frances  D.  Day. — Married  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Skinner, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  She  died  May  2,  1879,  in  the  58th  year 
of  her  age. 

Hannah  Schermerhorn. — Married  Thomas  L.  Greene, 
Albany,  N.  Y.  He  was  agent  for  the  Boston  &  Albany 
Railroad  at  East  Albany. 

Elizabeth  Howard,  now  Mrs.  Osmond  Tiffany. 

Catharine  Dwight. — Married  George  Bliss,  New  York 
city. 

Elizabeth  W.  Ashmun,  now  Mrs.  James  H.  Morton, 
Springfield,  Mass.— Judge  Morton  was  a  lawyer.  He  was 
educated  at  Brown  University  and  Harvard  College.  On 
the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Springfield  as  a  city  in  1852, 
he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  police  court,  which  position 
he  held  until  his  death.  May  9,  1876,  at  the  age  of  52  years. 

Ruth  H.  Bangs. — Died  Dec.  19,  1849,  aged  20  years. 

Mary  A.  Sargeant,  now  Mrs.  L.  E.  Day,  Boston,  Mass. 

Everett  Peabody. — Graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1849.  Hs  completed  the  biography  of  his  Uncle  Oliver, 
and  edited  the  "literary  remains"   of  his  father,   in    1850. 


I  l6  HISTORY    OF 

He  was  a  railway  engineer,  and  resided  in  Missouri  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  Rebellion.  He  was  appointed  colonel  of 
the  25th  Missouri  Vol.  Infantry  (Union  army).  He  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  on  the  6th  of  April,  1862,  in 
the  31st  year  of  his  age.  Col.  Peabody  was  a  brave  and 
gallant  soldier.  He  was  greatly  beloved,  and  his  loss  was 
deeply  felt,  both  by  the  ofificers  and  men  under  his  command. 

JoNATH.VN  DwiGHT,  New  York  City. — A  prominent 
civil  engineer. 

George  Bliss,  New  York  City. —  Graduated  at  Harvard 
College  in  185 1.  The  eminent  lawyer,  firm  of  Bliss  & 
Schley,  counselors. 

Frank  H.  Peabody,  Boston,  Mass. — Firm  of  Kidder, 
Peabody  &  Co.,  bankers. 

Oliver  W.  Peabody,  Boston,  Mass. — Firm  of  Kidder, 
Peabody  &  Co.,  bankers. 

William  B.  O.  Peabody,  Boston,  Mass. — Architect. 

Mitchell  Ames. — Was  a  civil  engineer.  He  went 
South.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  it  is  said  that  he 
entered  the  Confederate  service,  and  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh 
received  a  fatal  wound.  He  came  home  to  Springfield, 
Mass.,  dying  Sept.  6,  1863,  at  the  age  of  34  years. 

William  H.  L.  Barnes,  San  Francisco,  Cal. — A  prom- 
inent lawyer. 

James  Eaton. 

Charles  W.  Swift,  London,  Eng. 

William  Bliss,  Boston,  Mass. — Was  general  manager 
of  the  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad  previous  to  his  election 
as  a  director  in  the  corporation,  July  15,  1880.  He  is  now 
its  president,  having  been  elected  July  22,  1880.  President 
Bliss  has  managed  this  leading  and  wealthy  corporation 
with   devotion  and  signal  ability. 

Abel  D.  Chabin,  Springfield,  Mass. — He  was  a  director 
in  the  Massasoit  Insurance  Company  in  1865.  and  president 
of  the  Hadley  Falls  Hank,  Holyoke,   Mass.,   from    1856  to 


THE    SEMINARY.  I  I  7 

1864,  and  president  of  the  New  Haven  Steamboat  Company. 
He  went  abroad,  where  he  resided  for  several  years.  He 
died  suddenly  in  Paris,  France,  Nov.  24,  1878,  at  the  age 
of  49-  , 

Miss  Charlotte  A.  Catlin — a  sister  of  the  wife  of  Dr. 
M.  B.  Baker,  and  an  aunt  of  Miss  C.  Alice  Baker,  the  his- 
torical writer — had  a  flourishing  school  on  the  first  floor  of 
the  building.  Miss  Catlin  was  a  "  lady  of  the  old  school," 
and  paid  great  attention  to  the  manners  and  morals  of  her 
pupils,  besides  teaching  them  reading,  spelling,  grammar, 
and  plain  sewing,  as  "  fine  arts." 

The  following  were  some  of  her  pupils  : — 

Clara  Dwight,  Springfield,  Mass.,  now  Mrs.  Judge 
VVm.  S.  Shurtlefl". — Judge  Shurtleff  was  a  member  of  the 
class  of  1850  at  Williston  Seminary.  He  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  1854,  and  has  been  a  prominent  lawyer  since 
1856  ;  was  colonel  of  the  46th  Regiment  Massachusetts 
Vols,  during  the  civil  war  ;  is  Secretary  of  the  Springfield 
Institution  for  Savings,  and  since  1863  has  been  judge  of 
probate  for  Hampden  county.  Judge  Shurtleft"  is  assiduous 
in  his  official  duties  and  metes  out  justice  to  all  who  require 
his  services. 

Julia  Edwards,  Charlestown,  Mass. — Married  Charles 
H.  Hurd,  Esq.,  Boston,  Mass. 

Mary  Edwards. — Married  a  Mr.  Childs,  Cleveland,  O. 

Lelia  Childe,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  lost  on  the 
steamer  "Arctic,"  by  a  collision  with  the  steamer  "  Vesta," 
ofif  the  coast  of  Newfoundland,  Sept.  27,  1854,  at  the  age  of 
19  years. 

Sophia  W,  How'Ard  and  Catharine  L.  Howard, 
Springfield,  Mass.,  of  Misses  Howard's  widely  known 
private  school. 

Mary  Ames,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Elizabeth  Ames,  Springfield,  Mass. 


I  I  8  HISTORY    OF 

Lucy  Ashmux,  Springfield,  Mass. — Married  Josiah 
Hedden,  a  banker  of  New  York  city.  She  died  March  24, 
T877,  aged  46. 

C.  Alice  l^AKEK,  Cambridge,  Mass.,  the  historical  writer. 
Sophia  Rowland,  Troy,  N.  Y. — Married  Judge  Beach. 
Addie  Ripley. — Married  a  Mr.  Hooper,  Boston,  Mass. 

Mary  Ripley. — Married  a  Mr.  l^artholemew,  New 
York  city. 

William  Dwight. — Born  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  July  14, 
1831.  From  184910  1853  he  was  at  West  Point  Military 
Academy,  but  resigned  before  he  graduated.  He  was 
engaged  as  a  manufacturer  from  1853  to  1861,  and  was 
residing  in  Philadelphia  when  the  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter 
was  made.  He  was  commissioned  captain  of  the  13th 
Regiment  U.  S.  Infantry,  May  14,  1861.  In  June,  1861, 
was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  first  regiment 
of  the  Excelsior  Brigade,  the  70th  Regiment  of  New  York 
Vols.  His  brigade  was  a  jmrt  of  General  Hooker's  division 
in  1861.  At  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  Col.  Dwight 
received  three  wounds  and  was  left  as  dead  upon  the  field 
but  was  found  alive  by  the  rebels  and  taken  prisoner.  On 
his  release  he  was  made  brigadier-general,  Dec.  i,  1862, 
for  his  gallantry  in  that  battle.  He  was  assigned  to  Gen- 
eral Banks's  division  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  F'eb.  12, 
1863,  and  was  put  in  command  of  the  first  brigade  of 
General  Grover's  Division,  and  ordered  to  Baton  Rouge. 
He  was  in  the  Red  River  camj^aign  and  was  General  l^anks's 
chief  of  staff  in  that  expedition.  In  July,  1864,  he  was  put 
in  command  of  the  first  division  of  the  19th  Army  Corps 
under  General  Sheridan,  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  Va. 
He  rendered  valuable  service  in  the  battles  of  Winchester, 
Fisher's  Hill,  and  Cedar  Creek  ;  at  Winchester  eminently 
so,  when  the  Union  army  rallied  and  defeated  the  rebel 
forces  of  General  Early.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  Dwight's 
Division  was  a  conspicuous  feature  in  the  final  grand  re\'iew 


THE    SEMINARY.  I  I9 

at  Washington.  General  Dwight  remained  in  the  army 
for  some  months  after  the  war.  He  died  at  Boston,  Mass., 
April  21,  1888,  in  the  57th  year  of  his  age. 

Wilder  Dwight. — Born  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  April 
23,  1833.  He  passed  six  months  at  the  private  military 
school  of  Mr.  Kinsley  at  West  Point;  entered  Harvard 
College  in  1849,  graduating  in  1853.  On  leaving  college  he 
entered  the  law  school  at  Cambridge.  In  1855  he  went 
abroad  and  passed  over  a  year  in  foreign  travel.  On  his 
return  home  to  Boston  he  entered  the  office  of  the  Hon. 
Caleb  Cushing,  attorney-general  of  the  United  States.  He 
practiced  as  an  attorney  in  Boston  from  1857  to  1861. 
During  the  late  war  he  was  appointed  major  of  the  Second 
Regiment  of  Massachusetts  Infantry  May  24,  1861,  which 
position  he  held  until  June,  1862,  when  he  was  promoted 
by  Governor  Andrew  to  be  its  lieutenant-colonel.  In  the 
retreat  of  General  Banks,  through  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
he  was  taken  prisoner  at  Winchester,  Va.,  May  25,  1862, 
but  was  paroled  June  2d.  He  was  mortally  wounded  at 
Antietani,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  1862,  and  died  two  days  after- 
wards of  his  wounds,  near  the  field  of  battle,  Sept.  19,  1862, 
in  the  30th  year  of  his  age.  As  he  lay  wounded  and  alone 
upon  the  field  between  the  two  armies  he  wrote  to  his 
mother  these  words  :  — 

"  I  am  wounded  so  as  to  be  helpless.  Good-by,  if  so  it 
must  be.  I  think  I  die  in  victory.  God  defend  our 
country.  I  trust  in  God,  and  love  you  all  to  the  last. 
Dearest  love  to  father  and  all  my  dear  brothers.  Our 
troops  have  left  the  part  of  the  field  where  I  lie. 

"  Mother,  yours, 

"  Wilder." 

Howard  Dwight. — A  graduate  of  Harvard  College 
in  1857.  He  was  captain  and  assistant  adjutant-general 
U.  S.  Army  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  In  the  campaign 
against    Port    Hudson,   he    was    surprised    and    killed    by 


120  HISTORY    OF 

guerrillas   near  the   Bayou  Boeuf,  La.,  May  4,  1863,  in  the 
26th  year  of  his  age. 

John  S.  Barnes,  New  York  City. 

James  Dwight  Orne. — Was  a  civil  engineer.  He 
entered  the  Union  army  in  August,  1861,  as  second  lieu- 
tenant in  the  i8th  Massachusetts  Regiment,  and  was  three 
times  promoted  for  his  gallant  conduct  in  battle.  He  took 
part  in  thirty-six  battles,  under  Generals  McClellan  and 
Meade,  of  the  5  th  Army  Corps.  He  was  reported  dead 
and  left  as  such  on  the  field  in  the  second  Bull  Run  battle. 
At  Chancellorsville  the  back  of  his  saddle  was  shot  off.  At 
Gettysburg  a  piece  of  a  shell  nearly  cut  his  hat  into  two 
pieces.  He  went  through  the  whole  Peninsular  Campaign 
and  took  part  in  all  its  battles,  except  that  at  Antietam.  He 
served  in  the  war  nearly  four  years,  and  was  made  success- 
ively first  lieutenant,  captain,  and  then  provost  marshal  of 
the  first  division  of  the  5th  Army  Corps.  After  the  war  he 
was  in  business  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.  He  is  now  a  manu- 
facturer of  woolen  goods  at  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  where  he 
resides. 

John  Bliss. — Was  in  the  service  of  the  Wabash  Rail- 
road Company  from  1852  to  1857,  residing  in  Lafayette, 
Ind.  He  was  with  the  Milford  Gas  Company,  Milford, 
Mass.,  from  1857  to  1864,  and  for  twenty  years  was  a  mer- 
chant in  Boston,  Mass.  He  now  resides  in  Springfield, 
Mass. 

Horatio  L.  Sargeant,  Springfield,  Mass. — Was  clerk 
in  the  Agawam  Bank  for  fifteen  months  previous  to  1855  ; 
he  afterwards  went  west,  and  was  general  ticket  agent  of 
the  Mississippi  &  Missouri  Railroad  Company  at  Davenport, 
Iowa,  until  June,  1858.  He  was  superintendent  of  the 
Baptist  Sunday  school  in  that  place  for  three  years.  In 
November,  1861,  he  became  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of  the 
general  superintendent  of  the  Michigan  Southern  &  North- 
ern Indiana  Railway  Company,  which  position  he  held  until 
about  1864.      While  in  the  service  of  the  railway  company 


THE    SEMINARY.  121 

at  Toledo,  Ohio,  he  united  with  the  First  Baptist  Church  at 
that  place,  May  27,  1859,  ^"^1  was  an  active  and  useful 
member  for  several  years.  He  was  chiefly  instrumental  in 
starting  several  mission  schools  and  did  a  great  amount  of 
work  for  the  cause  of  Christianity.  He  was  pre-eminently 
"  diligent  in  business,  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord" 
by  strict  system  and  untiring  industry.  While  he  was 
private  secretary  to  the  superintendent  of  the  Lake  Shore 
road,  he  was  requested  to  sell  tickets  after  midnight  on 
Saturday,  or  rather  on  Sunday  morning.  To  this  he  refused 
to  comply,  and  tendered  his  resignation,  which,  however, 
was  not  accepted,  but  his  salary  was  increased  $300  per 
annum,  and  he  was  not  obliged  to  break  the  Sabbath.  He 
studied  for  the  ministry  and  was  ordained  April  20,  1864. 
He  was  chaplain  of  the  14th  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry  during  the  late  war,  receiving  his  commission  from 
Gov.  John  l^rough,  July  8,  1864,  to  date  from  the  28th  of 
May,  1864.  He  was  pastor  of  the  church  of  Huntington, 
Mass.,  where  he  did  noble  work.  He  was  a  zealous  and 
efficient  worker  in  every  religious  cause.  He  died  at  West 
Springfield,  Mass.,  July  25,  1866,  at  the  early  age  of  32 
years,  greatly  beloved  and  lamented  by  a  large  circle  of 
relatives  and  friends. 

Edmund  Rowland. — Graduated  at  Trinity  College, 
Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1857,  and  received  the  degree  of  A.M. 
in  course  in  1861.  He  was  rector  of  the  Episcopal  church 
at  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  for  nine  years,  when  he  was  called 
to  Clifton,  from  thence  to  Cincinnati,  O.  About  six  years 
ago  (1884)  he  was  called  to  the  rectorship  of  St.  John's 
Church,  Waterbury,  Conn.,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has 
been  in  the  ministry  of  the  Episcopal  church  for  nearly 
thirty  years. 

James  S.  Dwight. — In  1853  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
he  went  to  sea,  sailing  from  Boston  in  the  barque  "  Kate 
Hastings,"  Capt.  James  B.  Hatch.  Before  he  was  twenty- 
five  years  of  age  he  was  master  of  a  vessel.     He  took  com- 


122  HISTORY   OF 

mand  of  the  ship  "  Cutwater,"  after  the  captain  had  been 
swept  overboard  during  a  heavy  sea.  He  was  master  of 
the  ships  "Charger,"  and  "Springfield,"  the  latter  having 
been  named  in  honor  of  his  native  town  ;  his  friends  pre- 
sented him  with  a  set  of  colors  for  the  compliment.  His 
voyages  were  made  principally  to  China,  Australia,  Cali- 
fornia, and  European  ports.  Among  the  sons  of  Springfield 
who  have  gone  forth  to  win  fame  and  fortune,  none  had 
brighter  prospects,  or  was  more  highly  esteemed,  than 
Captain  Dwight.  Accomplished  and  of  noble  bearing,  he 
was  the  beau  ideal  of  an  American  sailor.  While  on  the 
voyage  from  Calcutta  to  New  York  he  was  cruelly  mur- 
dered at  midnight,  while  asleep  in  his  cabin  on  board  the 
ship  "Freeman  Clark,"  by  the  cook  and  steward,  who  were 
Malay  Chinese,  May  27,  1882,  at  the  age  of  46  years. 

Edward  Foot. — Was  apprenticed  at  the  American 
Machine  Works  on  the  "Hill"  when  under  the  manage- 
ment of  the  late  Philos  B.  Tyler.  He  afterward  entered  the 
service  of  the  Taunton  Locomotive  Works,  Taunton,  Mass. 
He  was  salesman  for  William  I^.  Lang  &  Co.,  dealers  in 
railway  supplies.  New  York  and  Boston,  and  was  in  busi- 
ness with  his  brother  Emerson  in  New  York  under  the  firm 
of  Foot  Bros.  Upon  the  enlargement  of  their  business  the 
firm  became  Foot,  Vibert  &  Co.  He,  having  withdrawn 
from  the  firm,  was  for  two  years  the  purchasing  agent  at 
New  York  for  the  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  ¥v  Railroad. 
He  was  for  several  years  a  member  of  the  7th  Regiment  of 
New  York.  Of  fine  physique,  and  soldierly  bearing,  he  was  a 
fit  representative  of  that  famous  regiment.  He  served  in 
the  regiment  during  the  late  war,  at  Washington  and 
Fredericksburg,  and  went  with  it  around  Baltimore  in  April, 
1 86 1,  for  the  relief  of  Washington.  He  died  in  New  York 
city,  July  27,  1885,  at  the  age  of  50  years. 

Emkkson  Foot,  New  York  City. — Was  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Foot  Bros,  and  Foot,  Vibert  &  Co.,  dealers  in 
railroad  sui:)i:)lies. 


THE    SEMINARY.  123 

Daniel  A.   Dwight,  Boston,  Mass. 

William  Edwards,  Cleveland,  O.      Merchant. 

Oliver  Edwards,  Warsaw,  111. 

Edward  Harding. — A  civil  engineer. 

William  Orne,  Springfield,  Mass. — He   died  Aug.  8, 
1862. 

James    A.    Whistler. — A  famous    artist,  residing  in 
France. 

Franklin  Roberts. — Went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Vrc'e,  vale. 


Mr.  Eaton  excelled  in  mathematics.  The  unusual  num- 
ber of  boys  (eleven)  that  have  given  evidence  of  his  thorough 
training  in  that  science,  and  have  become  eminent  civil 
engineers,  is  somewhat  remarkable. 

The  following  list  gives  occupations  of  some  of  those 
under  the  several  teachers  at  the  Seminary  and  at  Mr. 
Eaton's  residence. 


Merchants, 

Lawyers, 

Clergymen, 

Journalists, 

Bankers, 

Farmers, 

Railroad  president, 

Railroad  commissioner, 


Seven  were  officers  in  the  Union  army,  during  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  :  Everett  Peabody  ;  the  three  Dwight 
brothers,  William,  W'ilder,  and  Howard  ;  Chester  Harding; 
James  Dwight  Orne  ;  Edward  Foot  ; — all  worthy  descend- 
ants of  a  noble  lineage. 

Three  served  in  the  Confederate  States  army  during 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 


8 

Physician, 

6 

Political  economist 

3 

Architect, 

2 

The  naval  service, 

2 

Sea  captain, 

0 

Manufacturer, 

1 

Artist, 

1 

Printer, 

124  HISTORY    OF 

Forty-three  ha\e  died,  their  ages  as  recorded  aggregat- 
ing 1735  years,  an  average  age  of  40  years. 

The  states  and  countries  in  vvhicli  they  are  living  and 
have  died — nineteen  states  of  the  Union,  the  District  of 
Columbia,  and  three  foreign  countries — are  as  follows  : — 

Arkansas.  Nebraska. 

Alabama.  New  Hampshire. 

Connecticut.  New  York. 

California.  Ohio. 

Florida.  Pennsylvania. 

Illinois.  Vermont. 

Indiana.  Wisconsin. 

Massachusetts.  District  of  Columbia. 

Maryland.  England. 

Michigan.  France. 

Missouri.  Italy. 
Mississippi. 


One  of  the  scholars,  now  an  eminent  citizen  in  the  city 
by  the  "  Golden  Gate,"'  writes  of  Mr.  Eaton's  school  :  "  I 
remember  that  I  commenced  the  study  of  Latin  there,  and 
wept  my  eyes  dry  over  '  jinisa,  viiisic'  and  the  rest  of  it.  I 
recall  the  agony  of  mind  with  which  I  attempted  my  first 
public  declamation,  and  the  mess  I  made  of  it.  I  remem- 
ber the  terraced  garden  and  the  brook  and  Bliss's  pond  at 
its  foot,  where  I  nearly  drowned  one  summer's  afternoon." 

One  of  the  "boys"  from  the  "far  West,"  who  stands 
pre-eminent  in  his  profession,  writes  as  follows  :  "  I  have  a 
very  pleasant  remembrance  of  those  days,  more,  perhaps, 
from  many  delightful  hours  spent  in  play  with  a  fine  lot  of 
boys  and  girls  than  from  an}'  particular  amount  of  knowl- 
edge imbibed.  Every  half-hour  during  school  hours  there 
was  an  intermission  of  five  minutes,  when  we  had  the  lib- 
erty of  the  school-room  for  moving  about  and  talking,  fur- 
nishing the  boy's  weary  brain  an  opportunity  of  interchang- 
ing little  courtesies  with  the  girls  in  the  way  of  notes  or 
conversation  ;  or  we  could  consult  with  Mr.  Eaton  in  regard 
to  any  difficulty  in  our  lessons.      We  also  had   our  regular 


THE    SEMINARY.  125 

recess  of  fifteen  minutes  out  in  the  yard,  where  there  was 
ample  space  for  a  frolic  in  summer.  In  winter  we  had  glori- 
ous fun  sliding  down  hill  on  Union  street,  corner  of  Maple 
street.  Boys  and  girls  both  made  the  most  of  the  sport, 
and  the  latter  did  enjoy  having  the  boys  capsize  the  sled 
-  and  roll  pell-mell  into  the  deep  snow  !  Chester  Harding 
and  I  studied  Latin  and  Greek  grammar — the  only  ones,  I 
believe,  in  the  dead  language  department,  and  we  duly  felt 
our  importance  as  we  conjugated  and  declined  in  a  loud 
voice  words  of  mystic  meaning  to  the  others.  The  girls,  I 
believe,  caught  on  to  the  verb  amo  very  readily." 

Another  pupil  of  a  wealthy  family,  now  residing  in  New 
York  city,  writes  this  :  "Mr.  Eaton  was  of  gentle  disposi- 
tion and  ruled  more  by  love  than  fear.  He  was  very  fond 
of  minerals  and  had  quite  a  good  collection,  which  he  dis- 
tributed among  his  best  scholars  as  prizes.  George  Bliss, 
now  known  as  the  Colonel,  obtained  the  first  choice.  The 
late  Samuel  Bowles  was  the  big  boy  of  the  school,  and  many 
a  tilt  I  have  had  with  him  at  marbles,  of  which  he  was  very 
fond." 

The  estimable  daughter  of  an  eminent  physician,  now 
residing  in  New  York  city,  writes  this  recollection  of  the 
school  :  "  I  can  see  Mr.  Eaton  now,  a  quiet,  conscientious 
gentleman,  wholly  incapable,  I  should  say,  of  administering 
reproof  or  punishment  to  any  scholar,  and  such  was  the 
tone  of  the  school  and  the  class  of  scholars  that  neither,  I 
think,  was  ever  needed.  The  highest  praise  I  can  give  it 
is  to  say  that  I  do  not  believe,  anywhere,  a  school  could  be 
conducted  on  the  same  plan  now.  It  seemed  to  me  to  have 
been  ideal." 

After  leaving  Springfield,  Mr.  Eaton  went  to  Boston, 
living  on  Roxbury  Neck,  where  he  opened  a  school  for 
young  ladies.  He  served  for  several  years  in  the  Legisla- 
ture and  on  the  Boston  school  board.  He  was  also  assist- 
ant master  in  the  Boston  Latin  school.  His  health  became 
somewhat  impaired  and  he  moved  to  (Juincy  and  superin- 
tended  the  building  of  a  horse-railroad  from  Wollaston  to 


126  HISTORY    OF 

Boston.  Subsequently  he  went  to  South  America,  return- 
ing in  a  few  years  to  Massachusetts  and  spending  the 
remainder  of  his  life  in  Wellesley  Hills  with  his  sisters, 
wherehedied  May  12,  1877,  aged  65  years,  greatly  respected 
and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  Two  of  his  children 
are  now  living  at  Wellesley  Hills. 

One  of  his  scholars,  who  is  now  a  prominent  citizen 
residing  in  Connecticut,  writes  :  "Of  the  boys  that  were 
under  Mr.  Eaton's  instruction,  it  is  somewhat  remarkable 
how  many  have  achieved  more  or  less  distinction."  He 
might  also  have  added  that  a  large  number  of  the  girls  that 
were  under  his  tuition  have  obtained  ecjual  distinction  and 
eminence  through  their  husbands  who  have  held  positions 
of  honor  and  trust  in  the  city,  state,  and  national  govern- 
ments, both  civil  and  military.  He  further  writes  :  "  The 
school  was  a  good  school  for  the  time.  Mr.  Eaton  was  a 
very  accomplished  man,  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  very  popu- 
lar and  pleasant  in  his  ways.  In  connection  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Peabody  he  was  largely  instrumental  in  establishing  the 
Springfield  cemetery,  and  contributed  probably  more  than 
any  other  one  person  to  laying  out  and  beautifying  the 
grounds.  The  row  of  elm  trees  that  line  the  avenue  from 
Maple  street  were  planted  by  him  from  the  seed  about  the 
year  1844."  The  consecration  of  the  cemetery  took  place 
Sept.  5,  1841.  Dr.  Peabody  was  the  first  president  of  the 
Cemetery  association.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  1 8 16.  Studied  theology  at  Cambridge  Divini"ty  school, 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  18 19.  In  October,  1820,  he 
became  pastor  of  the  Unitarian  Church,  where  he  remained 
during  his  life-time.  He  was  an  accomplished  scholar  and 
poet.  Dr.  Peabody  was  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the 
Massachusetts  Zoological  Survey,  for  which  he  prepared 
a  report  on  the  birds  of  the  Commonwealth  in  1839.  He 
contributed  to  the  North  Auicrican  Revici^',  wrote  for 
"  Sparks'  American  Biography"  lives  of  Alexander  Wilson, 
Cotton  Mather,  David  Brainerd,  and  James  Oglethorpe,  and 
edited    the    Springfield    Collection  of    Hymns  for  Sacred 


THE    SEMINARY,  12/ 

Worship  in  1835.  After  his  decease  a  volume  of  his  ser- 
mons was  published  (in  1849)  by  his  brother  Oliver.  He 
died  May  28,  1847,  ii"'  the  48th  year  of  his  age,  greatly 
revered  and  lamented.  A  monument  near  the  Chapin 
chapel  bears  this  inscription  :  "  Erected  by  citizens  of 
Springfield  in  grateful  recognition  of  his  services  in  securing 
for  them  this  beautiful  resting  place  for  their  dead." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  seminary,  April 
18,  1843,  a  vote  was  passed  to  sell  and  distribute  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  sale  among  the  proprietors,  according  to  the 
number  of  shares  owned  by  them,  and  the  next  day  the 
property  was  sold  to  Miss  MargaretteT.  Emery  for  $1802.17. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  certificate  of  stock  issued  at 
the  time  :  — 

This  certifies  that  Harvey  Chapin  is  proprietor  of  two  shares,  No.  34,  35, 
in  the  capital  stock  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Female  seminary  in  .Springfield, 
which  shares  may  be  assigned  by  a  transfer  on  the  back  of  this  certificate, 
which,  being  recorded  by  the  clerk,  shall  constitute  such  assignee  owner  of 
such  shares. 

Attest.  James  Byers,  President. 

Shares  25  dollars  each. 

Benjamin  Day,  Clerk. 

Miss  Emery  was  the  daughter  of  Capt.  Robert  Emery, 
who  lived  in  the  house  that  stood  on  the  lot  where  the  Bos- 
ton &  Albany  granite  building  now  stands.  When  Miss 
Emery  took  possession  of  the  house  she  made  some  improve- 
ments upon  it,  and  resided  there  a  number  of  years  in  unity 
with  Mrs.  Col.  Edmund  Rowland,  whose  husband  was  a 
dry-goods  merchant,  and  Mrs.  William  Bliss,  the  mother  of 
the  president  of  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad  corporation.  In 
their  quiet  retreat  in  the  evening  of  their  lives  the  place 
bore  the  sobriquet  of  "  Saints'  Rest."  They  were  devout 
members  of  Rev.  Dr.  W.  B.  O.  Peabody's  society.  On  the 
death  of  Miss  Emery,  the  trustees  of  the  estate,  John  B. 
Stebbins  and  the  late  Henry  Alexander,  Jr.,  sold  the  prop- 
erty April  I,  1870,  to  Frederick  H.  Harris,  for  $10,000. 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  SEMINARY. 


LADIES. 


Alexander,  Mrs.  Henry. 
Allen,  Miss  Lucy  Maria. 
Allen,  Miss  Sarah. 
Ames,  Miss  Elizabeth. 
Ames,  Miss  Mary. 
Angell,  Mrs.  \V.  B. 
Austin,  Mrs.  S.  H. 
Avery,  Mrs.  Ale.xander  IL 
Bacon,  Mrs.  Daniel  G. 
Baker,  Mrs. 
Baker,  Miss  C.  Alice. 
Bangs,  Miss  Elizabeth. 
Bangs,  Miss  Fanny. 
Bangs,  Miss  Mary. 
Bangs,  Miss  Ruth  H. 
Bangs,  Miss  Sarah. 
Bartholemew,  Mrs. 
Beach,  Mrs.  Judge. 
Bishop,  Miss  Fanny. 
Bishop,  Miss  Sarah. 
Bliss,  Miss  Emily  S. 
Bliss,  Mrs.  George. 
Bowles,  Mrs.  Samuel, 
lirinsmade,  Mrs.  William  B. 
liryant.  Miss  Hannah  M. 
Bryant,  Miss  Mary. 
Bullard,  Mrs. 
Catucci,  Countess  Marie. 
Chapin,  Mrs.  Edmund  D. 
Chapin,  Mrs.  Walter  E. 
Childe,  Miss  Lelia. 
Childs,  Mrs. 
Clary,  Miss  Ellen. 
Covell,  Mrs.  C.  L. 
Crosby,  Miss  Maria  Louisa. 
Cummings,  Miss  Maria. 
Davis,  Mrs.  Lemuel. 
Day,  Miss  Elizabeth  D. 
Day,  Mrs.  L.  E. 
Day,  Miss  Mary  S. 
Eaton,  Miss  Hannah  A. 


Eaton,  Miss  Johanna. 
Eaton,  Miss  Rebecca. 
Emery,  Miss  Mary. 
Foot,  Mrs.  Adonijah. 
Foster,  Miss  Maria. 
Glover,  Miss  Fannv. 
Goodwin,  Mrs.  A.  S.  W. 
Gordon,  Mrs.  Solomon  J. 
Graves,  Miss  Martha  D. 
Greene,  Mrs.  Thomas  L. 
Harris,  Mrs.  Frederick  H. 
Hatch,  Miss  Jane  H. 
Hedden,  Mrs.  Josiah. 
Hooper,  Mrs. 

Howard,  Miss  Catharine  L. 
Howard,  Miss  Fanny  A. 
Howard,  Miss  Lucinda  O. 
Howard,  Miss  Sophia  W. 
Hurd,  Mrs.  Charles  H. 
Ironsides,  Mrs. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  James  H. 
Kent,  Mrs. 
Krum,  Mrs.  Judge. 
Lee,  Mrs  William  W. 
Loring,  Miss  Lucy. 
Loring,  Miss  Maria. 
Lyman,  Miss  Hannah. 
Marston,  Miss  Mary. 
Moorfield,  Miss  Mary. 
Morris,  Mrs.  George  B. 
Morris,  Mrs.  Judge  Henry. 
Morton,  Mrs.  James  H. 
Osgood,  Miss  Ann. 
I'eabody,  Miss  Frances  B. 
Sanderson,  Mrs.  Asa  W. 
Shipley,  Miss  Elizabeth. 
Shiverick,  Mrs.  Dr.  Arthur  W. 
Shurtlcff,  Mrs.  William  S. 
Simmons,  Mrs. 

Skinner,  Mrs.  Rev.  Thomas  II. 
Smith,  Mrs.  Dr.  David  I". 


THE    SEMINARY. 


129 


Smith,  Mrs.  William  L. 
Stebbins,  Miss  Sophia. 
Sterns,  Miss  Elizabeth. 
Stockbridge,  Mrs. 
Stocking,  Mrs.  Alexander. 
Stoeckl,  Baroness  de. 
Strickland,  Mrs.  J.  W.  A. 
Swift,  Mrs.  Charles  W. 
Swift,  Mrs.  William  H. 
Thompson,  Mrs.  Wellington. 
Tiffany,  Mrs.  Osmond. 
Tileston,  Mrs. 
Trask,  Mrs.  Dr.  Edward. 


Walker,  Mrs.  George. 
Warner,  Mrs.  Benj.  F. 
Warren,  Mrs.  Daniel  D. 
White,  Miss  Helen. 
White,  Mrs.  William  O. 
Willard,  Miss  Charlotte. 
Willard,  Miss  Margaret. 
Willard,  Miss  Sarah  B. 
Willard,  Miss  Susan  S. 
Wolcott,  Miss  Elizabeth  H. 
Wolcott,  Miss  Helen. 
Wolcott,  Miss  Martha. 
Wood,  Mrs.  Oliver  E. 


GENTLEMEN. 


Ames,  Mitchell. 
Barnes,  John  S. 
Barnes,  W.  H.  L. 
Bliss,  George. 
Bliss,  John. 
Bliss,  William. 
Booth,  Alfred. 
Bowles,  Samuel. 
Chapin,  Abel  D. 
Chapin,  Abijah  W. 
Chapin,  Charles  W. 
Cummings,  Horace. 
Cummings,  Thomas. 
Dale,  George. 
Dale,  Samuel. 
Dwight,  Daniel  A. 
Dwight,  Howard. 
Dwight,  James  .S. 
Dwight,  Jonathan. 
Dwight,  Wilder. 
Dwight,  William. 
Eaton,  Tames. 
Edwards,  Oliver. 
Edwards,  William. 
Flint,  Edward. 
Foot,  Adonijah. 
Foot,  Edward. 
Foot,  Emerson. 
Frost,  George  L. 
Gunn,  Elisha. 
Harding,  Chester. 


Harding,  Edward. 
Harding,  Horace. 
Harding,  James. 
Howard,  Thomas  D. 
Hunt,  John. 
Kingsbury,  George. 
Kingsbury,  Thomas  D. 
Kinsley,  Edward  W. 
Lathrop,  James. 
Lee,  Edward  R. 
Loring,  Bailey. 
Orne,  J.  Dwight. 
Orne,  William. 
Peabody,  Everett. 
Peabody,  Frank  H. 
Peabody,  Oliver  W. 
Peabody,  W.  B,  O. 
Pease,  Laure. 
Robb,  Owen  Dorsey. 
Roberts,  Franklin. 
Rowland,  Edmund. 
Sargeant,  Horatio  L. 
Stebbins,  Richard. 
Swift,  Charles  W. 
Warriner,  Ralph. 
Wells,  David  A. 
Whistler,  James  A. 
Willard,  Mason. 
Wolcott,  George. 
Wolcott,  William. 


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